Hero pilot set for the dole

AN airline pilot hailed a hero after helping to crash-land a stricken passenger jet at Heathrow Airport is set to be on the unemployment register.

Peter Burkill, who was praised with his co-pilot for saving the lives of 136 passengers aboard the Boeing 777, took voluntary redundancy from British Airways in the summer to spend time with his family.

The pilot, who lives in Worcester, is said by his wife Maria to be confident of finding work soon despite being rejected by Korean Air, which requires that applicants do not have an “accident or incident” on their CV.