If a pilot's personal detour is unauthorized, what does this imply regarding liability?

When a pilot takes an unauthorized personal detour, this typically indicates that the pilot has stepped outside the scope of their employment and the tasks they are authorized to perform by their employer. In such cases, the pilot bears responsibility for their actions because they were not acting with the authority or under the direction of the employer during the detour.

Liability generally hinges on whether the actions taken were within the scope of employment. When a pilot deviates from authorized flight paths or duties for personal reasons, they effectively remove the employer from liability for any incidents that occur during that unauthorized detour. This means that the pilot is solely responsible for any consequences stemming from that detour, including any accidents or regulatory violations.

Thus, in this scenario, the pilot's unauthorized decision leads to their liability. This principle helps ensure that employees are accountable for their own actions, especially when they act outside the framework of their job responsibilities.