A pilot "summarily dismissed" by Aer Arann after his aircraft hit a fuel pump at Weston Airport in Kildare should be given €30,000 compensation or reinstated in his job, an Employment Appeals Tribunal has found.
It said there was no evidence that Claes Wernstrom, Seoirsinn, Furbo, Co Galway, was a "careless or reckless pilot" and his summary dismissal by the airline was "inappropriate".
While Mr Wernstrom was involved in a "grave incident", it said no air accident had occurred and it was not a summarily dismissible offence.
An investigation by the air accident unit of the Department of Transport found the Islander aircraft was taxiing at approximately 2mph when the wing struck the fuel dispenser. It said Mr Wernstrom was unaware of the collision and attributed an abrupt movement in his controls to a wind gust.
Mr Wernstrom said he had not worked since he was fired despite applying for more than 400 jobs.