British Airways A380 Crew of San Francisco to London Flight Arrested

LONDON- A British Airways (BA) cabin crew member was arrested at London Heathrow Airport (LHR) after colleagues discovered him dancing naked in a business class lavatory during a transatlantic flight.

The incident occurred on a San Francisco (SFO) to London (LHR) service, prompting an investigation into suspected drug use aboard the aircraft, The Sun reported.

Photo- BrayLockBoy; Wikimedia Commons

British Airways Crew Arrested at LHR

The steward disappeared from his duties during meal service on the busy flight carrying approximately 470 passengers and crew.

Flight attendants initiated a search of the Airbus A380-800 aircraft when the crew member failed to report for his assigned responsibilities serving food and beverages to passengers.

Colleagues discovered his absence as they distributed meals throughout the cabin during the ten-and-a-half-hour journey across the Atlantic. The aircraft was cruising at 37,000 feet when the search began, with crew members checking various sections of the double-decker plane.

The in-flight crew supervisor located the missing steward in the Club World cabin restroom, where he was found completely nude and dancing. The discovery shocked the crew supervisor, who immediately took action to address the situation.

Flight attendants quickly clothed the steward using spare pyjamas designated for First Class passengers. The crew then escorted him to the premium cabin section, where they secured him in a luxury seat for the flight’s duration.

British Airways (BA) management contacted authorities during the flight, alerting police to the incident aboard the aircraft. Law enforcement officers met the Airbus A380-800 upon its arrival at Heathrow Airport (LHR) at 11 AM on Sunday.

Police arrested the flight attendant immediately after the plane landed. Medical personnel assisted the crew member, who required wheelchair transportation from the aircraft. The steward received medical attention as part of the emergency response protocol.

Crew Shortage in Air

The remaining flight attendants worked the entire journey without scheduled breaks to compensate for their missing colleague.

The incident forced the cabin crew to redistribute responsibilities among themselves while maintaining passenger service standards throughout the transatlantic flight.

British Airways (BA) suspended the steward from duty pending the outcome of ongoing investigations. The airline confirmed the matter has been referred to police authorities for further examination.

Photo: Clément Alloing

Suspected Drug Use

Crew members suspect the flight attendant consumed drugs before or during the incident.

One anonymous colleague described the situation as extraordinary, noting the steward appeared to be under the influence of substances while the aircraft flew over the Atlantic Ocean.

The worker characterised the behaviour as dangerous and career-ending, emphasising the unprecedented nature of the incident. Flight crew members expressed concern about the safety implications of such behaviour during commercial aviation operations.

Photo: British Airways

Airline and Police Response

British Airways (BA) acknowledged the incident and confirmed cooperation with law enforcement agencies. The airline directed inquiries to police authorities, treating the matter as a criminal investigation rather than an internal disciplinary issue.

The case highlights ongoing challenges airlines face regarding crew member conduct and substance abuse prevention in aviation. British Airways (BA) continues investigating the incident while the suspended employee awaits legal proceedings.

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