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 to London, leaving hundreds of passengers stranded, according to an internal investigation.
Incident at a Luxury Resort
The crew had been staying overnight at a beachfront all-inclusive hotel, where rooms cost around £500 a night, before they were due to operate the return service to the UK. Guests claimed the evening descended into disorder as alcohol continued to flow, with several crew members becoming heavily intoxicated. One stewardess was reportedly sick in the hotel bar, while a male colleague collapsed and needed help back to his room. Holidaymakers who filmed the group said they were told: "We're British Airways crew, what of it?" when concerns were raised about their behavior.
Flight Cancellation and Impact
BA managers removed the entire operating crew from duty before Flight BA254, which was scheduled to depart Bridgetown at 4:40 p.m. local time on Sunday and arrive in London at 6:20 a.m. on Monday. The cancellation affected up to 336 passengers booked on the airline's Boeing 777-200, according to a report by The Sun. Replacement staff were 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 Reactions and Costs
An insider said overnight stays at high-end hotels are considered a benefit 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. 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.
BA Statement
A British Airways spokesperson said: "We expect the highest standards of our crew, and are urgently investigating this matter."
