A delivery driver sacked after crashing into a Boeing 737 at Gatwick Airport has won his claim for unfair dismissal.

Ray Paice, 57, of Broadfield, Crawley, blamed a mechanical fault for the accident, which caused more than £500,000 of damage.

No one was seriously hurt but his employer, flight catering firm Alpha Flight Services, dismissed him for gross negligence.

An employment tribunal ruled Mr Paice was unfairly dismissed and awarded him £7,984 in lost earnings and compensation.

The tribunal heard the accident happened in January when Mr Paice, a food and equipment handler, was driving a seven-and a-half tonne truck towards the aircraft.

His vehicle suddenly surged forward, crashing into the British Airways jet and puncturing the side.

The aircraft was severely damaged and put out of service for 36 days an insurance claim was made for £550,000.

It had just landed and one disembarking passenger fell over due to the impact.

Steve Mills, a loader who was guiding the vehicle, was hit on the shoulder by the truck's wing mirror and fell to the ground.

The company launched an inquiry and claimed tests on the truck showed there were no mechanical faults. The explanation for the accident was driver error.

The firm believed Mr Paice, who has driven heavy goods vehicles for 35 years, had accidentally put his foot on the accelerator of the automatic vehicle instead of the brake.

But Mr Paice denied the accident was his fault. He said he did not put his foot on the wrong pedal.

Mr Paice, who worked for the firm for eight years and at the airport for 15 years, said: "I am very upset with my dismissal and feel it is extremely unjust.

"I had no intention of hitting the aircraft and I am horrified about what happened and the harm that could have been caused to Steve Mills."

He told the Brighton hearing the company's investigation into the accident was unfair and the firm failed to have an independent examination of the vehicle.

Mr Paice said another driver had reported problems with the truck's throttle but this was not taken into consideration.

He said other drivers involved in accidents with planes had not lost their jobs.

He said: "Suddenly the vehicle rushed towards the aircraft. I concluded the throttle must have jammed. It all happened so fast there was nothing I could do."

The company denied using Mr Paice as a scapegoat in order to keep its contract with BA. It said it had to take action because of the extent of the damage and the fact Mr Mills could have been killed.

Tony Edwards, the firm's flight services manager, said the action was the most serious the company had ever experienced.

He said: "It was an accidental act but Ray was responsible for that vehicle at the time."

Mr Mills, who still works for the firm, gave evidence in support of Mr Paice. He said: "He had a reputation of being an extremely slow and careful driver."

After the hearing Mr Paice said: "It is a great weight off my shoulders. Losing my job had a traumatic effect. I lost my confidence, my self-esteem and two stone in weight."