After decades of flying, Captain Pete West set off from Stansted airport on Sunday for his final flight before retirement.
On touching down, Easyjet flight EZY3101 was greeted by a surprise water arch salute by the airport fire brigade to mark the end of Captain West’s 44-year career.
He joined the RAF in 1972 and has spent the past 14 years with Easyjet, where he has played an instrumental role in Easyjet’s Fearless Flyer course. This programme helps phobic flyers, some of whom have never flown before, overcome their anxieties about flying and, fittingly, there were more than 100 Fearless Flyers on the flight on Sunday.
Captain Pete West said: “Sunday marked the end of a long and happy career for me as a pilot. In the last few years I have been grateful for the opportunity to help people come to terms with their fear of flying.
“I was particularly happy that my wife Ali was on the flight as well. I would also like to acknowledge my gratitude to all those who made it such a special day for me.”
Mark Wein of Easyjet said: “We are really sad to be saying goodbye to Captain Pete West. There are thousands of people who will be forever in his debt for helping them to fly fearlessly. The whole team wish him every happiness in his retirement.”
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