Pilots grounded over 'drinking'

British Airways has asked Channel 4 for evidence

British Airways has grounded 11 pilots and three cabin crew following allegations of drinking before flights.

The staff have been removed from flying duty pending the outcome of an internal investigation, the airline said on Wednesday.

The action follows claims by the makers of Channel 4's Dispatches programme that the air crew breached strict airline rules about drinking.

We have launched a formal investigation

BA safety director David Hyde

British Airways said it was taking the accusations seriously but added safety had not been compromised on any flights after the alleged incidents.

The claims have angered the British Airline Pilots' Association, Balpa, which said the programme makers had used former cabin crew members to "entice and entrap" current staff staying in European hotels.

Airline rules state that air crew should not drink during the eight hours before a flight and should drink in moderation during the 16 hours before that.

Investigation

BA's director of safety David Hyde said the airline took any potential breach of regulations very seriously.

"We have launched a formal investigation and have notified the Civil Aviation Authority, the UK's civil aviation regulator," he said.

All the air crew removed from flying duties, which include at least one stewardess, work on short-haul routes, mainly out of Gatwick airport in West Sussex.

A British Airways spokeswoman said the airline had asked the programme makers to hand over evidence to back up the claims, but they had refused.

The Dispatches programme, believed to be based on incidents from March to late summer this year, is due to be shown on 12 October.

'Underhand and disgraceful'

The airline union attacked the programme for using "underhand and disgraceful journalistic methods, which could be described as entrapment".

Balpa secretary Chris Darke said Channel 4 had had the evidence since March but had deliberately chosen to withhold the information from both the CAA and BA.

"Their actions are not in the public interest at all, nor are they within the boundaries of responsible journalism," he said.

"They have sought to protect and enhance the sensationalism of their programme at all costs, without a care for public safety."

Mr Darke said Balpa would defend its members fully in whatever follows, including legal action as appropriate.

Channel 4 spokeswoman Melinda McDougall said: "We have evidence of BA pilots drinking to excess and then reporting for duty in breach of the eight-hour ban on alcohol.

"That is all we want to say at this stage apart from that we stand by our report and strongly deny any accusations of entrapment."