London - A British Airways pilot has been suspended over claims he took sordid selfies and read pornographic magazines during long-haul flights.
Colin Glover is being investigated after photographs emerged appearing to show him performing a sex act in a pair of women’s lacy stockings at the controls of a Boeing 777.
One image shows a man’s legs sprawled over the control panel while the aircraft is in auto-pilot mode. In another, his uniform is in a pile on the floor while his feet – clad in black stockings – control the steering yoke.
The photographs also show a pornographic magazine on the control panel and a man exposing himself in the toilets.
The man thought to be Mr Glover posed for the selfies after his co-pilot had left the cockpit, meaning he had sole responsibility for more than 300 passengers at the time.
It is thought the pictures were taken on two separate occasions, on different long-haul flights, and are believed to have been taken at night.
Mr Glover, 51, who was born in Windsor, Berkshire, and lives in Dublin, denies he is the man in the photographs, but he has been suspended from his job while BA investigates.
The father of one has worked for the airline for 26 years and describes himself on social media as a captain. His LinkedIn profile says he has long-haul and short-haul experience.
Twice-married Mr Glover, who graduated with a degree in civil engineering from Edinburgh’s Heriot-Watt University in 1987, is likely to be permanently banned from flying if he is found to be the man in the photographs.
At least one of the photographs appears to have been taken in a 777 – the world’s largest twin-jet aircraft, which has a seating capacity of up to 396 passengers.
Aviation safety expert Chris Yates told The Sun on Sunday: “This is very dangerous if the plane is in mid-flight. If you are flying, you can fly into serious turbulence.”
He said it was unlikely the pictures were taken on a simulator because “you can tell by the lighting that it is a plane”.
It is understood there are no toilets like the one seen in the photographs in the airline’s simulators. The photos are the latest in a number of serious incidents involving BA employees in recent years.
Earlier this year, pilots Sean Murphy, 39, and Paul Lytollis, 43, were placed under investigation after allegedly getting into a bar-room brawl in Houston, Texas.
And last year, BA employee Matthew Underwood was suspended amid allegations he was taking backhanders from celebrities and rich businessmen.
In 2013, a drunken BA cabin crew ran amok on a flight while off-duty, sparking angry complaints from passengers.
Stewards and stewardesses were seen downing bottles of champagne and red wine in front of stunned onlookers in First and Club Premium cabins on a flight from London to Washington. Passengers said the BA staff began screaming and shouting “like spoiled brats”. Some reported them kissing and “heavy petting”.
BA said “We are taking these allegations extremely seriously and are investigating.”
Daily Mail