AN “eccentric” airl-ine pilot sacked for allowing a Black-burn Rovers foot-baller on to the flight-deck of his plane was on a final warning, it has be-en revealed.

Former RAF hero Pablo Mason was under the threat after stripping down to his underwear during a security check and being “abusive” towards airport staff, a tribunal heard.

Mr Mason, who saw service during the 1991 Gulf War, lost his job with MyTravel in 2007 after letting Robbie Savage on to the deck while flying Blackburn Rovers home from Finland.

An employment tribunal in Birmingham today was told that the 58-year-old former Tornado pilot, who claims he was unfairly dismissed, had already been disciplined for gross misconduct follo-wing the two separate incidents in 2006.

Captain Mason maintains that one of the incidents was not investigated fully and therefore the formal warning – which later led to his dismissal – should not have been given.

Disciplinary action was taken following an argument between Captain Mason and security staff at Birmingham Airport on September 5, which caused the pilot to become emotional and “close to tears”.

Captain Mason, from Leamington Spa, War-wickshire, became “ag-gressive and abusive” towards security staff after they insisted on checking his bag twice because the X-ray machine was broken, the tribunal heard.

Referring to his emotional state, Capt Mason told them: “You lot have achieved what 1,000 Iraqis had failed to do.”

Martin Mahoney, who was the disciplinary officer at Thomas Cook Airlines, which merged with MyTravel in 2007, said Captain Mason admitted saying “some-thing like that” and said he felt “bullied, humiliated, victimised and close to tears” by the security staff.

Mr Mahoney, who now works for Emirates Airline in Dubai, said he accepted that Captain Mason was provoked.

A month earlier, the tribunal heard that the pilot had taken off his clothes leaving only his underwear on during a security check.

Mr Mahoney said: “Captain Mason confirmed that the incident was in humour and admitted it was ill-judged.”

Captain Mason, who is representing him-self, claims the final warning – given after the argument with security staff a month later – was a result of victimisation.

Robbie Savage left Rovers in January 2008 to join Derby County for a £1.5million fee.