From The Times...
Stewardess takes off as plane lands
BY ARTHUR LEATHLEY, AVIATION CORRESPONDENT
EVERYONE was pleased when a British Airways jet arrived almost half an
hour early at Genoa. Travellers were able to make an early start for
their hotels, and Italian airport workers were able to see a half-
naked air hostess running down the steps and around the plane.
The stewardess had bet the pilot that she would strip down to her
underwear if their flight from Gatwick reached its destination early.
The 23-year-old brunette not only kept her side of the bargain, she
also put on the captain's cap, tip-toed down the aircraft steps after
most of the passengers had disembarked and sprinted around the Boeing
737, "smiling and wiggling" according to onlookers, before
re-boarding.
However, while the new incentive for punctual flying was universally
praised in Italy, BA officials back home were less than amused. "We
take this very seriously, "a spokesman said. "It seems there was some
inappropriate behaviour and we are looking into the details of what
happened." He claimed that the woman also wore a yellow tabard to
protect her modesty. The stewardess, who has not been named, has been
allowed to continue working while an inquiry is carried out, although
the company declined to reveal which route she is using.
The pilot on the Sunday flight to Genoa's Christopher Columbus airport
is believed to have taken advantage of favourable wind conditions and
uncongested air traffic space to make an early landing. Many flight-
times in Europe have built-in delays to take account of expected
traffic congestion.
The respected Italian newspaper La Repubblica praised the ingenuity of
the wager: "It is only a pity that most of the passengers missed the
most pleasant and original aspect of the flight, which was the real
reason it came in early."
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