“This was contrary to legislation introduced after the 9/11 terrorism attacks,” Mr Mahoney said.

When this happened Capt Mason was on a final written warning issued in November 2006 for two previous incidents.

The first of these, Mr Mahoney told the tribunal, was in August 2006 when Capt Mason stripped down to his underpants as he passed through a staff-only security gate.

“He was not required to remove his clothes but did so and, when asked why, said it was a spontaneous act to provide humour and raise morale,” he said.

Mr Mahoney said that although no one had complained and Capt Mason offered to apologise, it was deemed to be gross misconduct.

The following month the former RAF pilot was accused of being “aggressive and abusive” towards security staff.

“Capt Mason believed the security officers took items from his flight bag and were scrutinising them intensely,” Mr Mahoney said.

“He felt he was being bullied, humiliated and victimised and was close to tears, so he swore at the security guard shouting, ‘You lot have achieved what a thousand Iraqis have failed to do’.”

He received a final written warning lasting a year, which he appealed against and lost.

Capt Mason told the tribunal that the basis of his case was that he should never have received the final warning in the first place, saying he had been “victimised”.

(Proceeding)