IT was a Boeing 777-300, not a US Navy F-14 Tomcat.

But someone forgot to inform the cockpit.

The pilot of this Cathay Pacific flight took his brand new plane for a Top Gun-like stunt, swooping 10m above the runway for an impromptu fly-by.

Captain Ian Wilkinson was piloting the sixth purchase of Cathay Pacific's new fleet on its maiden voyage on 30 Jan from Boeing's plant in Washington, USA to Hong Kong.

But shortly after takeoff, he turned the plane around and swooped back to the ground to make a low-level fly-by of the Boeing factory, reported South China Morning Post.

The stunt wowed onlookers, but senior Cathay Pacific figures on the plane - including chairman Christopher Pratt - were far from impressed.

It cost Captain Wilkinson his job.

An airline spokesman confirmed the sacking on Saturday and a six-month suspension from training duties for another unidentified pilot at a disciplinary hearing last week.

The hearing found the two in breach of company guidelines, which prohibit fly-bys without the required clearance.

Both have appealed against the decisions and declined to comment.

But videos and photographs of the stunt have appeared on the Internet, with fellow pilots and plane enthusiasts posting their opinions of Captain Wilkinson's daredevil stunt.

On Professional Pilots Rumour Network, an online forum, user A310GUY wrote: "When you fly for an airline, you are not flying for a flying club... There is no room for individual impulsive expression."

Another user, CRWCRW, commented: "I love a good fly-by, like the rest of us... but I can't say I think that one was too clever. A bit low and slow. Glad they didn't have an engine failure then."

The official word, from the airline spokesman, was that "the pilot in command of the flight was satisfied that the fly-by was not dangerous."

"He was disciplined for not seeking or obtaining company approval for the manoeuvre," the spokesman said.

The airline has a well-established approval process for fly-bys and a number have been conducted in the past as display flights at air shows with proper approval in place, the spokesman said.

Still, there were those who loved the spontaneous act.

Forum user gdiphil wrote: "Here they have fantastic photos to use in publicity, their profile is raised, great flying making all us boys wishing we had become pilots instead of boring lawyers or accountants etc, and a fantastic colour scheme being shown off to remind me that perhaps I should book CX next time I go to Oz from London..."