British Airways suspends five pilots over racist emails including one from a captain who used the N word in message to ethnic minority colleague and another showing image of man having sex with a chicken
Captain Brendan O’Neal
British Airways suspends five pilots over racist emails including one from a captain who used the N word in message to ethnic minority colleague and another showing image of man having sex with a chicken
British Airways has suspended five of its pilots after The Mail on Sunday unearthed evidence of offensive behaviour including emails containing racist language and pornographic images.
The airline launched an immediate investigation after being informed that:
- A senior BA captain repeatedly used the ‘N word’ in email messages to an ethnic-minority colleague;
- Another pilot sent an image of a man having sexual intercourse with a chicken;
- Images of blacked-up performers from the BBC’s controversial Black And White Minstrel Show were shared between pilots.
The allegations centre on BA pilots who combine their flying duties with work as part-time trade union officials. Thirty BA pilots work up to 45 hours a month as representatives for the British Airline Pilots Association (Balpa).
One pilot said: ‘Being a union rep is a very alpha-male, testosterone-driven, locker-room-type role.’
The claims of racism are being made by Manish Patel, 46, a Boeing 777 captain who quit as a Balpa rep last year. He has filed an employment tribunal claim against the union in which he claims he was sent emails featuring racist language by colleagues.
He also alleges that he endured racist comments, including being called ‘P*** lad’ and ‘chai wallah’, as well as inappropriate jokes that he also worked as a taxi driver or ran a corner shop.
It is understood that he admits sending offensive emails himself, but says he did so only to fit in. Last night Balpa said his claim is ‘strenuously denied and will be robustly defended’.
The claims of racism are being made by Manish Patel, 46, a Boeing 777 captain who quit as a Balpa rep last year. He has filed an employment tribunal claim against the union in which he claims he was sent emails featuring racist language by colleagues
However, this newspaper has seen six messages sent by Captain Brendan O’Neal, a senior union official, to Captain Patel in which the ‘N-word’ is used.
In one, sent in November 2012 as union reps organised a Christmas pub lunch, Captain O’Neal asked: ‘What food you want n****?’
In another, from September 2012, he asked Captain Patel: ‘U on skype n****?’ In July 2012, Captain O’Neal, who trains other BA pilots, asks: ‘Why you selling the car n****?’
