A Virgin Atlantic pilot has been sacked on the spot after airline bosses discovered she was moonlighting and working for another airline on her days off.
First officer Danica Theuma flew for Virgin, which operates a strict long-haul network.
Unbeknownst to the company, she was piloting planes for KM Malta Airlines which flies to 17 destinations across Europe.
The maximum flying time for a commercial pilot is 100 hours of flying time each month, or 900 hours per calendar year, according to Britain’s Civil Aviation Authority.
While standards around the world are similar, the restrictions used in Europe and the UK are among the strictest in the world to ensure pilots are not significantly fatigued with mandatory rest periods to ensure they are able to focus properly.
First Officer Danica Theuma, a pilot for Virgin Atlantic Pilot has been 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, pictured (file photo)
But Theuma, in a major breach of air safety and professionalism, appeared to be compromising the safety of its passengers on both airlines – instead deciding to operate extra flights on days when each airline believed it would have rested and on a day off.
Theuma was immediately fired by Virgin Atlantic after learning of her double employment only by accident.
Meanwhile, Malta’s new state-funded airline, KM Malta Airlines, initially suspended him but has since reinstated him in the cockpit, allowing him to continue flying for the airline.
A veteran pilot told The Shift that every pilot at KM Malta Airlines is aware of the incident with many horrified that the flag carrier decided to keep it on the books.
Incredibly, Theuma was able to juggle her schedule between the two airlines which would see her make the long three-and-a-half-hour journey from Malta to London Heathrow, before embarking on another journey abroad state with Virgin.
Virgin’s long-haul network means average flight times are around 10 hours.
Theuma is believed to have been doing double duty on both airlines since at least December 2023, until he was captured in May.
Theuma, left, instead of observing her mandatory rest periods, was using the time to travel to London Heathrow to fly Virgin Atlantic planes out of Heathrow Airport
First Officer Theuma is still employed by KM Malta Airlines, where she flies the Airbus A320 aircraft, pictured (photo photo)
Fatigue has been proven to be a contributing factor in 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 study, 18 hours without sleep can have the same effect on the human body as heavy drinking.
A recent report from the European Cockpit Association also noted how adequate sleep and rest are essential to allow the body to recharge.
“Sleep deprivation can cause confusion, disorientation and hallucinations, which are not welcome in a cockpit or flight safety program,” the ECA wrote.
“Indeed, as sleep deprivation increases, the probability of error increases and safety is compromised. A tired person often cannot diagnose a problem and make a decision about how to correct it.’
Theuma broke international safety rules that impose strict regulatory limits on duty times and rest periods to ensure the safety of passengers and crew
Danica Theuma is seen receiving her Air 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 their contract was terminated during their training period.
A Virgin Atlantic spokesman said: “The safety and security of our customers and our crew is always our top priority. While we are unable to share full details of cases, we can confirm that an individual’s contract has been terminated during their training period as they did not meet the high standards we require.
“During their training period, we were not aware that the individual was employed elsewhere.”
No comment has been made by KM Malta Airlines or the pilots’ union, ALPA, despite being fully aware of it The behavior of Theuma.