BA ‘suspends crew’ after alleged boozy hotel night

The Express understands British Airways has suspended four cabin crew members after an alleged night of heavy drinking at a luxury Barbados resort forced the cancellation of a scheduled flight back to London.

An internal investigation is reportedly under way after the incident reportedly left hundreds of passengers stranded when Flight BA254 was called off shortly before it was due to depart from Bridgetown on Sunday.

The crew had allegedly been staying overnight at a beachfront all-inclusive hotel, where rooms are said to cost around £500 a night, before they were due to operate the return service to the UK.

Guests at the resort claimed the evening descended into disorder as alcohol continued to flow, with several crew members allegedly becoming heavily intoxicated.

One stewardess was reportedly sick in the hotel bar, while a male colleague is said to have collapsed and needed help back to his room.

Holidaymakers who began filming the group also claimed they were told: “We’re British Airways crew, what of it?” when concerns were raised about their behaviour.

British Airways managers are understood to have removed the entire operating crew from duty before Flight BA254, which had been scheduled to leave Bridgetown at 4.40pm local time on Sunday before arriving in London at 6.20am on Monday.

According to a report by The Sun, the cancellation affected up to 336 passengers booked to travel on the airline’s Boeing 777-200.

One insider reporedly said overnight stays at high-end hotels are considered one of the benefits of working on long-haul services.

“One of the perks of working as flight crew for BA is staying at incredible hotels in far-flung destinations,” the source said.

“And the team who had flown into Barbados were making the most of their stay at an idyllic retreat where the guests are all made up of honeymooners and families on a trip-of-a-lifetime.

“It’s an immense privilege, and it’s understandable that the group wanted to enjoy themselves.

“But some of this crew behaved in a manner that did not befit British Airways.

“The vodka and beers kept being poured and some of the team were clearly drunk.”

The source added that complaints were made after one crew member was sick and another collapsed during the evening.

Replacement staff are understood to have been brought in to cover future Barbados services while the crew involved returned to Britain.

The four suspended employees arrived back in the UK earlier this week as the airline’s investigation got under way.

Industry sources told The Sun the disruption could cost British Airways hundreds of thousands of pounds once replacement crews, accommodation and wider operational costs are taken into account.

A British Airways spokesperson said: “We expect the highest standards of our crew, and are urgently investigating this matter.”