drunk pilot radioed control tower to ask where it was hiding

[Amby 490]

A drunk German pilot had to be guided to land by a rescue helicopter after he radioed the control tower to ask where it was 'hiding'.

The 65-year-old amateur pilot had allegedly drank beer and wine before taking to the skies above Thuringia in his Cessna light aircraft, reports the Daily Telegraph.

Once airborne, he served himself some cocktails while at the controls.

Two hours later he was apparently so inebriated that he was unable to read the instruments telling him where the Schoengleida airfield was.

"Come on, I know you're down there," he radioed. "Where the bloody hell have you hidden yourself?"

Control tower staff say he also sang a few songs, cracked a mother-in-law joke and told them to "pull their fingers out as I've got a party to go to".

The tower scrambled a rescue helicopter which homed in on the Cessna 50 miles west of the airport and gave instructions for the pilot to follow it back.

Officials at Schoengleida said the pilot, who has not been named, made a safe landing.

The man was unsteady on his feet and smelt of alcohol as he wobbled from the cockpit to his parked car. Concerned airfield authorities alerted police.

He was stopped on the way home, breathalysed and found to be nearly four times over the legal limit for driving. Now he has lost his driving licence - and his pilot's licence.

http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_3464417.html?menu=

[Nagishkaw 510]

Great.

[Nik+Heather 121]

Actually, the thought of him serenading the control tower is pretty funny too. I'm a bit surprised they didn't alert the police and have them waiting for him when he got on the ground!! Why let him get into a car and drive away?!

[Dave and Helena 0]

Don't know if I should laugh or cry. Right now I am doing both. The though of him up there is funny if you overlook the fact that he could have caused an accident and killed people.

A friend of mine who is a pilot was ranting the other day about how some people just shouldn't be allowed to have a plane and fly since they're too stupid and don't know what they are doing. This guy is definitely one of them.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Only in Germany. I miss it sometimes.

[Marina-Del 10]

I agree with Heather and/or Nik as I don't know who it is!!! They should have had the police waiting for him!