Cathay Pacific pilot admits to drug addiction after cocaine bust

American Christopher Corman, 35, a first officer with the Hong Kong airline, was put on probation for 18 months Friday after admitting possessing drugs, the South China Morning Post reported.

Corman resigned from the airline after his arrest in April when police, acting on a tip-off, found 0.67 grams of cocaine in a locked drawer during a raid on his Hong Kong apartment.

The pilot, who joined Cathay Pacific in 2000, admitted suffering from drug addiction and said he had been having emotional problems because of differences with his girlfriend.

His lawyer said at Friday's sentencing hearing in Hong Kong's Eastern Court that Corman only used drugs when he was off-duty from his airline job, the newspaper reported.