British Airways Pilot Suspended After Leaving Cockpit Door Open Mid-Flight; Sparks Safety Concerns

In a concerning incident, a British Airways pilot was suspended after he left the cockpit door open during a flight from London Heathrow to New York. The pilot chose to ignore safety rules and left the door open to show his family, who were travelling on the flight, how he controls the aircraft. Other passengers on the flight were alarmed by this.

Pilot Leaves Cockpit Door Open On British Airways Flight

According to Hindustan Times, a British Airways pilot left his plane’s cockpit door open during a flight. While the pilot’s identity hasn’t been revealed yet, it was shared that the plane was flying from London Heathrow to New York JFK. Reportedly, the pilot wanted to show his family, who were travelling as passengers, how he controlled the plane.

The incident alarmed many passengers and other crew members. They flagged the incident with British Airways, and the pilot was suspended for ‘breaching anti-terror laws’. As per reports, the Civil Aviation Authority launched an urgent investigation into the incident. Following the investigation, the pilot returned to flying as there was no security threat.

Since the pilot was grounded, the return flight from New York to London was cancelled. Passengers were offered alternative flights and were able to reach London within four hours of their originally planned flight.

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Incident Sparks Safety Concerns

Since the September 11 terror attacks in the United States, pilots have had to keep cockpit doors closed and locked to prevent unauthorised access. This helps minimise risks of hijacking or terrorism. However, the British Airways pilot ignored this rule and left the cockpit door open, which alarmed passengers and crew members.

According to eyewitnesses, the cockpit door was “wide open for a significant time”. This also raised concerns among British Airways crew members, and they reported the pilot in the US. Addressing the matter, a British Airways spokesperson said, “Safety and security is our top priority and allegations of this nature are always fully investigated.”

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Cover Image Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons (representative image)