Hero pilot sacked for letting footballer Robbie Savage on the flight deck

But Pablo Mason, whose handlebar moustache and love of flying made him a hero of the 1991 Gulf war, has been permanently grounded - and all for doing a Premiership football player a favour.

Captain Mason, who became an airline pilot after leaving the RAF, lost his job after taking Blackburn Rovers home on a private charter flight following a match in Finland in August.

His crime was to allow one of the players, Robbie Savage, to spend most of the three-hour journey on the Airbus A320's flight deck to help allay his fear of flying.

That, however, was deemed a breach anti-terrorism rules by MyTravel airways and the 57-year-old was sacked from his £90,000-a-year job.

He is not going without a fight. Captain Mason, who led Tornado jets on 23 bombing missions over Iraq, hitting targets on every one, accused the airline of an "astonishing lack of common sense".

He added: "Rules are made for the guidance of wise men and the obedience of fools.

"There is no way on a normal public charter I would entertain taking even a small child on to the flight deck when I have no idea of their pedigree.

"But this was a famous footballer politely requesting to do so on a private charter.

"The plane was barely half full with a Premiership football team, its directors and staff.

"I am quite aware of the threat of terrorism. But when there is no threat, as I judged there not to be on this occasion, I don't think you should blindly adhere to rules set by bureaucratic nincompoops."

Flight deck visits had not been allowed on public charter planes since September 11.

The pilot, a father of two, is appealing against his dismissal. If that fails, intends to go to an employment tribunal.

"I just want to get back to the job I love," he said.

In his commercial career, Captain Mason, of Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, has endeared himself to thousands of passengers with his amusing in-flight announcements.

Savage, 32, described him as "the nicest pilot I have had the pleasure of flying with".

In a letter to him, the footballer wrote: "I am shocked, stunned and upset that you have been suspended for allowing me into the cockpit.

"If I thought for one moment that this would have compromised your position, I would never have asked."

Yesterday Captain Mason's wife Alicia said: "In a world of grey suits, Pablo has got the bright yellow one on.

"Flying is his life and he is not afraid to stand up for what he believes in."

A MyTravel spokesman said Captain Mason had been sacked 'for a breach of the strict policies required by the regulatory authorities for all flight deck and cabin crew personnel.

"We have a zero-tolerance policy towards any actions which could endanger the safety of our passengers and employees".