A pilot who struggled with a training course and feared failing it hanged himself in a hotel. An inquest heard experienced pilot John McLoughlin found the course “stressful and highly pressurised” and that he was not given adequate mental health support to help him through this. The 44-year-old, who was employed by West Atlantic UK, was found hanged in the bathroom of the hotel in Brighton on July 19, 2023.
The inquest heard police were satisfied that there was no third-party involvement as the room was closed and Mr McLoughlin was alone. He had removed his wedding ring and he was not under the influence of drink or drugs and there was no evidence of mental illness, coroner Gareth Jones said. “I find that he did this act which ended his life and did so with the intention of ending his life,” concluded Mr Jones, who has now raised concerns in a prevention of future deaths report about the level of mental health support pilots completing the Quadrant course are given.
Read more: Tributes pour in for 'wonderful' taxi driver who died in his car Mr Jones said peer support, which was offered to Mr McLoughlin, is not adequate for pilots struggling with their mental health and who may be experiencing suicidal thoughts. “He was on a training course run by Quadrant which he found stressful and with which he struggled,” said Mr Jones. “On the course, mental health issues were discussed.
“The support offered was through peer support who allow pilots to talk to another pil.
