A British Airways (BA) crew member has been arrested in Singapore following allegations that he raped a stewardess during a layover in the city-state.
The alleged incident reportedly took place after a night out, with the accused said to have attacked the female staff member. According to The Sun, two other female staff members have since been flown back to the UK following the incident.
A source described the situation as shocking, stating: “Everyone is numb. The rape-accused steward has flown with BA for years.”
The source added that the case is now under the control of Singapore authorities, posing significant challenges for aviation chiefs.
It is understood that British Airways managers have travelled to Singapore to assist in handling the aftermath of the incident.
In response to the situation, British Airways issued a statement confirming: “This is a matter for the police, and it would be inappropriate to comment further.“
Under Singapore law, rape involving a victim over the age of 14 can result in a 20-year prison sentence, along with a potential fine and caning as additional penalties.
This incident follows a previous scandal in 2023 involving a BA pilot, identified as Mike Beaton, who was sacked after admitting to snorting cocaine off a topless woman just hours before he was scheduled to co-pilot a flight from South Africa to the UK.
In text messages to a stewardess, Beaton reportedly claimed he was left “so f I couldn’t even lift my head gone 2**” following his all-night partying.
Due to his actions, the airline was forced to delay the flight by 24 hours while a replacement co-pilot was arranged. The delay cost British Airways approximately £100,000.
