A Virgin Atlantic pilot was arrested after he allegedly punched a police officer in the face while drunk just hours after landing a plane from which flew from Heathrow.
The incident is said to have occurred after the experienced pilot had flown a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner from Heathrow to Seoul, South Korea.
The plane in question was carrying approximately 300 passengers and crew members on board.
Officers had initially approached the pilot because he was "stumbling and falling over in a public area".
He is alleged to have thrown a punch at the responding officers, making contact with one of them.
The senior flier, who earns around £120,000 annually, was taken into custody after the altercation.
The airline also suspended the pilot and his arrest meant many flights suffered cancellations.
Virgin Atlantic management is said to be furious about the episode.
The Virgin Atlantic plane in question was ferrying approximately 300 passengers and crew members on board
| PAA source said: "For a senior pilot to behave in this way is shocking.
"He has let himself and his company down.
"Officials in Seoul take a very dim view of public drunkenness.
"To make things a lot worse, officers approached him because he was stumbling around, and he ended up swinging a punch at one of them.
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"Such idiotic behaviour has probably cost him his career."
The pilot remains grounded while official proceedings run their course.
After which, Virgin Atlantic intends to conduct its own internal investigation into the matter.
A spokesman for the airline said: "We can confirm a crew member was arrested in Seoul earlier this year.
"We have taken appropriate steps in line with our policies, and we are providing ongoing support to the individual, who has since returned to the UK."