A Virgin Atlantic pilot was fired on the spot after airline bosses discovered she moonlighted and worked for another airline on her days off.
First Officer Danica Theuma flew for Virgin, which operates a strictly long-haul route network.
Unbeknownst to the company, he also flew planes for KM Malta Airlines, which flies to 17 destinations across Europe.
The maximum flying time for a commercial pilot is 100 flying hours in any month, or 900 hours per calendar year, according to Britain’s Civil Aviation Authority.
While global standards are similar, the restrictions used in Europe and the UK are among the strictest in the world to ensure pilots do not become significantly tired with mandatory rest periods to ensure they can concentrate properly.
First officer Danica Theuma, a Virgin Atlantic pilot, was fired on the spot after airline bosses discovered she was moonlighting and working for another airline on her days off.
Theuma was a training pilot on a Virgin Atlantic Airbus A330 aircraft, pictured (file photo)
But Theuma, in a major breach of airline safety and professionalism, appeared to jeopardize the safety of its passengers on both airlines, opting instead to work additional flights on days when each airline believed it would have been resting and on a day off.
Theuma was immediately fired by Virgin Atlantic after they found out about her dual employment only by chance.
Meanwhile, the new state-funded Maltese airline, KM Malta Airlines, initially suspended her but has since reinstated her into the cockpit, allowing her to continue flying for the airline.
A veteran pilot said The change All KM Malta Airlines pilots are aware of the incident and many are horrified that the flag carrier has decided to keep it on the books.
Incredibly, Theuma was able to juggle her schedule between both airlines, which would require her to make a long three-and-a-half-hour journey from Malta back to London Heathrow, before embarking on another overseas trip with Virgin.
Virgin’s long-haul route network means the average flight duration is around 10 hours.
Theuma is believed to have been doing double duty at both airlines since at least December 2023, until she was captured in May.
Theuma, left, instead of completing his mandatory rest periods, used the time to travel to London Heathrow to fly Virgin Atlantic planes from Heathrow Airport.
First Officer Theuma still works for KM Malta Airlines, where the Airbus A320 flies, pictured (file photo)
Fatigue has been shown to be a contributing factor to a large number of aviation accidents and incidents throughout the year, but its consequences for aviation safety are often underestimated.
According to a Time Magazine According to a study, going 18 hours without sleep can have the same impact on the human body as excessive drinking.
A recent report from European Cabin Association He also noted that getting enough sleep and rest are essential to allow the body to recharge.
“Lack of sleep can cause confusion, disorientation and hallucinations, which are not welcome in a flight cabin or in a flight safety program,” the ECA wrote.
“In fact, as sleep deprivation increases, the probability of error increases and safety is compromised. A fatigued person is often unable to diagnose a problem and make a decision about how to rectify it.’
Theuma violated international safety rules that impose strict regulatory restrictions regarding duty times and rest periods to ensure the safety of passengers and crew.
Danica Theuma is seen receiving her Airline Transport Pilot License (ATPL) theoretical certificate at the Malta Aviation Museum in December 2017.
Virgin Atlantic told DailyMail.com that Theuma had been training with the airline but his contract was terminated during his training period.
A Virgin Atlantic spokesperson said: “The safety of our customers and our crew is always our top priority. While we cannot share all the details of the cases, we can confirm that the individual’s contract was terminated during their training period because they did not meet the high standards we demand.
“During his training period, we were unaware that the individual was employed elsewhere.”
Neither KM Malta Airlines nor the pilots’ union ALPA have made any comment, despite being fully aware of Theuma’s behavior.
