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Tag: british airways

  • BA Diverts Tel Aviv Flight on Final Approach; BA, VS Suspend Israel Operations

    BA Diverts Tel Aviv Flight on Final Approach; BA, VS Suspend Israel Operations

    A British Airways flight bound for Tel Aviv found itself diverting back to London Heathrow on Wednesday, just as it was on its final approach into Ben Gurion Airport (TLV). Flight BA165, operated on an Airbus A350-1000, touched down safely in London a little after 6:30 PM local time, after almost 10 hours airborne. The reason behind this unexpected change of course was the launch of a barrage of rockets by Hamas toward the city. While the Israel Airport Authority stated that the rocket attack didn’t pose an immediate threat to the airliner’s safety, British Airways decided to take no chances, and immediately suspended all its operations to Israel.

    This incident occurred amid escalating tensions in the region, with the conflict between Israel and Hamas intensifying. British Airways had been among the few airlines that continued to operate regular flights to Tel Aviv even after the hostilities began over the weekend. However, a spokesperson for the airline cited the “changing security environment” as the reason for discontinuing the flights.

    “Following the latest assessment of the situation, we’re suspending our flights to and from Tel Aviv,” the airline’s spokesperson confirmed. While Tel Aviv Airport had experienced sporadic rocket attacks in the days prior, British Airways had continued to operate non-stop flights from its Heathrow hub. BA had already pivoted towards daytime flights into Ben Gurion to prevent their crews from having overnight layovers in the country amid the ongoing war. Interestingly, fellow IAG-owned carrier Iberia Express still has flights scheduled for tomorrow between TLV and Madrid-Barajas (MAD), though it’s unclear if that will change amid this rapidly-evolving situation.

    Virgin Atlantic, another carrier operating flights to Tel Aviv from London Heathrow, initially indicated Wednesday that they intended to continue service to the region as scheduled. However, as the situation has continued to evolve, the airline has now suspended Israel service for at least the next 72 hours as they continue to re-assess conditions on the ground.

    Even Turkish Airlines, known for its high geopolitical risk tolerance and steadfast approach to serving conflict zones, has suspended its flights to Israel. Even amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, TK has maintained its flights to Russia, providing about the only reliable link for essential travel to and from the region while most US and EU carriers have suspended their Russia operations indefinitely. However, the escalating tensions in Israel have proven too much even for Turkish, underscoring the gravity of the situation on the ground.

    As for British Airways, their services to Tel Aviv have been suspended for at least the remainder of the week. Given the current state of affairs, it’s highly likely that this suspension will extend well beyond that initial timeframe. It’s interesting to note that European carriers appear to have a higher geopolitical risk tolerance compared to their US counterparts. For instance, Delta Airlines has suspended its flights to Tel Aviv for at least the remainder of October.

    For those currently in Israel, especially tourists, the situation has become increasingly challenging as flight options out of Tel Aviv continue to dwindle. British Airways was once a reliable choice for exiting the region, but it’s no longer an option. In light of this, it’s essential for individuals to take proactive steps to ensure their safety and well-being. Registering with your country’s embassy (STEP program for American citizens) is a prudent move to ensure your government is aware of your whereabouts.

    For US and Canadian citizens, the most practical strategy may be to seek the soonest available means to get to Europe and then determine a game plan from there. Despite President Joe Biden’s pleas to the airline industry, it’s unlikely that we’ll see nonstop air service to North America from the region (except some limited service on El Al) until the conflict subsides. The situation is evolving rapidly, and travelers are advised to stay informed and make well-informed decisions based on the latest updates and guidance.

  • British Airways A380 Pilot’s Wild Night: From Cocaine-Fueled Revelry to Grounded Career

    British Airways A380 Pilot’s Wild Night: From Cocaine-Fueled Revelry to Grounded Career

    Reader discretion is advised – we try to keep things PG-13 here at Points and PDBs, but this article describes the actions of a pilot which may be explicit.

    In the latest episode of “Airlines Gone Wild,” we have a British Airways First Officer, Mike Beaton, who decided to embark on a debaucherous adventure before a flight from Johannesburg O.R. Tambo Airport (JNB) to London-Heathrow Airport (LHR) – flight BA56, operated by an Airbus A380-800. The Sun reports that Beaton’s escapades included snorting cocaine off a woman’s bare breasts – a detail that would make even the most seasoned travelers gasp.

    According to The Sun, Beaton was far from discreet about his wild night, gleefully sharing the sordid details with a flight attendant friend. He even admitted, “I’ve been a very naughty boy.” Well, Mike, a broken clock is right twice a day!

    Beaton’s night of hedonism began innocently enough, with a night out in Johannesburg. He met a female Welsh holidaymaker and a “young Spanish bird” at a nightclub, and things quickly escalated from there. “We all walk (stagger) back up to the hotel bar for ‘one last one before bed,’” Beaton bragged. It’s unclear what BA’s “bottle to throttle” policy is, but one has to wonder if he broke it right here.

    However, the night took a scandalous turn when Beaton and his companions ended up at a local dude’s apartment. In Beaton’s text message exchange, he goes on to note that “Welsh” decided he should be her boyfriend, and describes in vivid detail how the group performed a sex act on “Spanish” atop a sofa.

    Amidst the topless dancing and questionable decisions, Class A drugs made their entrance. Beaton enthusiastically shared, “I’ve lost my shirt somewhere and one of the local lads produces a plate with a few lines of coke. So then there’s a debate about whose chest is the best to do a bump off.” And that’s how our protagonist found himself in the peculiar position of snorting cocaine off a woman’s chest in Johannesburg.

    After this eventful evening, Beaton managed to stay with the Welsh holidaymaker, but his excesses clearly caught up with him. He lamented, “Stayed the night with Welsh, sh** her for ages (I guess the coke played a part) and then was so f** I couldn’t even lift my head until gone 2.” Ouch.

    Not surprisingly, Beaton’s confessions to his FA friend didn’t stay secret for long. Maybe he thought his actions would earn him some street cred with his colleagues, but those very colleagues had a commitment to safety to uphold. Appalled by his behavior, his colleague reported him to British Airways, who swiftly canceled the flight, estimated to cost the airline GBP £100,000. Beaton was suspended, flown back to the UK as a passenger, and subjected to a drug test at Heathrow, which sealed his fate.

    It’s safe to say that Beaton’s career as a pilot has crash-landed. His antics not only violated the law but also brought unwanted attention upon British Airways. As one airline source put it, “This pilot has hoisted himself by his own petard.” The British Airways First Officer had a duty to protect the safety of passengers, but instead, he chose a path of recklessness.

    This isn’t the first time we’ve heard of BA crew members going wild on layovers. From Miami strip club arrests to sexual assault allegations in Singapore, British Airways has had its fair share of high-flying scandals. Not to mention, last year, staff were banned from all-inclusive deals in the Maldives after a flight attendant passed out drunk on a beach. Talk about a wild ride!

    Despite Beaton’s misadventures, British Airways assures us that there was no risk to passengers during his Johannesburg binge. They promptly informed the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), which withdrew Beaton’s medical certificate, effectively grounding him for good. They have also confirmed that Beaton is no longer employed by the airline.

    In the end, Mike Beaton’s wild night out was more than just a bad decision; it was the end of his aviation career. His license to fly has been revoked, and he’s left with nothing but memories of his infamous cocaine caper. In the world of aviation, it’s a reminder that even the highest fliers can come crashing down when they lose sight of their responsibilities.