A British Airways pilot was briefly suspended after he allegedly broke strict aviation security rules by leaving the cockpit door open during a transatlantic flight. The incident caused concern among passengers
and disruption to schedules.
According to a report by The Sun, the pilot wanted his family, who were travelling on the same flight, to see him operating the aircraft. His actions alarmed crew members and some passengers, who immediately noticed the door was open. He was then removed from duty and the flight was cancelled.
Flight Disruption After Security Breach
As per the report, BA174 from New York to London, scheduled to land on 8 August, was cancelled after the pilot was suspended. The flight was due to be operated by a Boeing 777-300 aircraft. The cancellation affected hundreds of passengers though British Airways arranged alternative flights. Most travellers reportedly reached London within four hours of their original schedule.
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) confirmed that an urgent investigation was launched into the matter. Since the September 11, 2001 terror attacks, airlines have followed strict rules requiring cockpit doors to remain locked at all times during flight.
Concerns Among Passengers
As reported by The Sun, the incident caused alarm on board.
“Crew and passengers immediately noticed the cockpit door was open and wanted to know what was happening. It made passengers incredibly uneasy. The door was wide open for a significant time — enough for people to worry and comment. BA colleagues were so alarmed that the pilot was reported in the US and bosses had to suspend him,” a source told the outlet.
The airline later said that a full investigation was carried out. It concluded that there was no security threat and the pilot has since returned to duty.
In a statement, British Airways said that safety and security are the airline’s highest priorities.
“Safety and security is our top priority and allegations of this nature are always fully investigated,” a British Airways spokesperson said as quoted by The Independent.
Separate Incident Involving easyJet
Earlier this week, a separate case involving easyJet also made headlines. A captain who was scheduled to operate a flight from Cape Verde’s Amílcar Cabral International Airport to London Gatwick was suspended after being spotted drunk and naked at a luxury hotel.
The pilot was staying at the five-star Melia Dunas Beach Resort and Spa on 4 August. Witnesses claimed he stripped off his clothes at 2:30 AM and walked through the reception area before entering the gym and spa. Some guests, who also happened to be easyJet passengers, recognised him and reported the matter.
The airline confirmed that another pilot replaced him for the 6 August flight.
