Pilot 'drank 10 pints'

British Airways has asked Channel 4 for evidence

A British Airways captain drank the equivalent of 10 pints of beer before climbing into the cockpit of a passenger jet, it has been alleged.

The pilot reported for duty for the flight from Barcelona to London and slept through the entire journey, according to Channel 4's Dispatches programme.

The documentary claims he had slept for only two hours before reporting for duty, following a heavy late-night drinking session with fellow crew members.

We have launched a formal investigation

BA safety director David Hyde

The programme - shown to the media on Thursday - reveals what its maker calls the "endemic" drinking culture among BA flight crews.

It claims that 10 of the 12 pilots secretly filmed broke BA's own drinking regulations before reporting for duty.

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

BA has grounded 11 pilots and three cabin crew, pending the outcome of an internal investigation.

Bars and nightclubs

The Channel 4 team followed the pilots and cabin crew of a BA flight from Barcelona to London Gatwick on 25 July.

The night before they flew, they were filmed in the city's bars and nightclubs, drinking and dancing into the small hours.

Eight hours before he was to due to take control of flight BA2485, the captain - named and shown in the film - had already allegedly consumed three beers and a bottle of wine.

Their [Channel 4's] actions are not in the public interest at all

Balpa secretary Chris Darke

He is filmed saying: "I can't believe I've got to take an aircraft back."

By the time he got to bed, he had consumed 20 units of alcohol, the programme claims.

His first officer - who allegedly had to fly the plane as the captain slept - drank at least 16 units, it is claimed.

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

'Formal investigation'

BA's director of safety David Hyde said: "We have launched a formal investigation and have notified the Civil Aviation Authority."

The suspended crew members all work on short-haul routes, mainly from Gatwick airport.

A BA 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 is due to be shown on 12 October.

We stand by our report and strongly deny any accusations of entrapment

Channel 4 spokeswoman Melinda McDougall

The Civil Aviation Authority has told the programme makers they should have reported the aircrew immediately if they had evidence that could have affected the safety of a flight.

It added that the vast majority of pilots were highly responsible and it had no clear evidence to suggest alcohol abuse was widespread.

Captain Mike Vivian, head of the CAA's flight operations inspectorate, said:

"We take these allegations extremely seriously and will continue to monitor British Airways' internal investigation."

He said the CAA was in favour of police carrying out alcohol tests on pilots when there was reasonable cause.

The secretary of the British Airline Pilots' Association, Balpa, Chris Darke attacked the programme for using "underhand and disgraceful journalistic methods, which could be described as entrapment".

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

Channel 4 spokeswoman Melinda McDougall said: "We stand by our report and strongly deny any accusations of entrapment."