>> ^skinnydaddy1:

>> ^sme4r:
A desk job? That really sucks, he must have saved the British government a cool million dollars or (or like 6 pounds, 7 quid these days) and some shame by landing it on a boat rather then crashing it out at sea.>> ^oritteropo:
One of the comments tells the rest of the story:
"In 2007, Britain’s National Archives released a number of Royal Navy files, and the second inquiry report was finally made public. Noting that Watson had completed only 75 percent of his training before he had been sent to sea, the board blamed Watson’s inexperience, and his commanders for assigning him an airplane “not fully prepared for the sortie,” a reference to radio problems. Nonetheless, Watson was reprimanded and given a desk job.


Well sort of, He saved the plane (Good) he saved his life (Great job) but as for money.
When the Alraigo, with the jet atop the containers, docked at Santa Cruz de Tenerife, a horde of reporters was on hand. The ship’s crew and owners filed a salvage claim and were awarded some £570,000 ($1.14 million at the time) as compensation for the “rescue.” When Watson returned to the Illustrious, a Board of Inquiry essentially did nothing. But when the Illustrious returned to port, Watson underwent a second Board of Inquiry.
It kind of sucks that the Capt of the cargo ship was more interested in the salvage claim than anything else. (This is my personal opinion and it may be that the capt was a good guy but instead of waiting for the royal navy he made damn sure he got to a friendly port to guarantee his money.)


Do you have any idea how much a Harrier costs?