British Airways is clamping down on 'inappropriate behaviour' from its staff.
The move comes after First Officer Mike Beaton was sacked in recent weeks for going on a bender before trying to man a flight back to the UK from South Africa.
In text messages to a fellow member of staff, Beaton boasted about snorting cocaine off a woman's breasts and taking part in extra martial affairs.
One of his bragging texts read: "We all walk (stagger) back up to the hotel bar for ‘one last one before bed’.
“Welsh and one of these guys is getting on very well, but she’s told him that I’m her boyfriend. Couple of drinks in the bar, bit of snogging, and then we’re somehow all on our way to this dude’s flat.
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"Welsh has decided that I should actually be her boyfriend - Spanish has hooked up with one of the two local lads and is having her t**s sucked on their sofa.”
“Stayed the night with Welsh, shagged her for ages (I guess the coke played a part) and then was so f**ked I couldn’t even lift my head until gone 2," he continued to brag.
After a stewardess questioned if Beaton was fit to fly ahead of the flight, he was suspended and replaced by another pilot for the flight.
Upon his return home to the UK the following day, he was made to take a drugs test - which he failed.
Beaton was then fired from British Airways (BA).
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In a comment to LADbible yesterday, Wednesday 27 September, British Airways said: "Safety is always our top priority. The matter was referred to the CAA and this individual no longer works for us."
Elsewhere, the CAA said: "An airline must immediately inform us if a UK pilot has misused drink or drugs boarding, or being on board, an aircraft.
"In these cases we would immediately suspend the pilot’s medical which means they cannot fly. In most cases the pilot would have an assessment with an expert medical team and if they wished to return to flying then a comprehensive rehabilitation programme would be put in place. At the end of that process the medical would only be reinstated if we were completely satisfied.”
In light of his actions, BA has issued a statement to its staff urging people to come forward with any concerns about their peers - senior members of staff in particular.
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Apparently the airline said the press it has received in recent days 'reinforces our zero tolerance policy to any inappropriate behaviour'.
The Sun reported that employees were also told: "Today’s coverage is a reminder to everyone that we all have an obligation to immediately report any concerns that we have, even if they concern our close colleagues, be they our peers or those more senior to us."
Niamh Shackleton