Pilot Left Cockpit Door Open ‘So Family Could See Him Fly Plane’, British Airways Takes Action
- A pilot working with British Airways pilot who allegedly broke anti-terror rules by leaving the cockpit door open during a flight has been suspended
- Reports making the rounds on Friday, August 15, disclosed that the captain wanted his family, who were among the passengers from Heathrow to New York, to see him operating the controls
- Reports added that the incident was so concerning that the pilot was reported to US authorities as soon as the plane landed
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A British Airways pilot has been suspended from duties after he reportedly left his plane’s cockpit door open during a flight, it has emerged.
Source: Getty Images
As reported by INDEPENDENT, the pilot wanted his family, who were travelling as passengers, to see him operating the controls.
The alleged incident took place during a flight from Heathrow to New York JFK last week.
His conduct “alarmed” some passengers, and other crew members flagged the incident with British Airways, The Sun reported.
The pilot was suspended and the return flight, which was scheduled to arrive back at Heathrow on August 8, was cancelled.
Source: Getty Images
Meanwhile, passengers arrived at Heathrow within four hours of their originally planned flight.
Reports disclosed that the pilot has now returned to flying after an investigation found there was no security threat.
“Safety and security is our top priority and allegations of this nature are always fully investigated,” a British Airways spokesperson said.
Pilots have been required to keep cockpit doors closed and locked to prevent unauthorised access ever since the September 11 terror attacks in the United States.
Pilots at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport suspended
Meanwhile, in Nigeria, Legit.ng reported that the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) suspended a ValueJet pilot and a co-pilot over the allegation of violating the safety protocol of the aviation at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.
Michael Achimugu, the director of public affairs and consumer protection of the federal government agency, disclosed the development in a statement on Tuesday, August 5, stating that the NCAA confirmed the receipt of the report of the incident, which happened on the same day at the airport's domestic terminal.
According to the statement, the pilot in question, from the preliminary information, started "departure procedures from the designated bay" without compliance with the "mandatory pre-departure clearance protocols".
Read more about pilots, plane here:
- White lady who boarded flight with Nigerian pilot shares what he said during takeoff
- Airlines release list of 8 behaviours not allowed at airports, lifts Ibom Air passengers' no-fly ban
- Meet ValueJet's Captain Oluranti, female pilot who prevented K1 De Ultimate from flying: "No wonder"
- Harrowing words of pilot who flew ill-fated plane that crashed and killed family of 4 surfaces
Last words of Air India pilots to each other before plane crash
Elsewhere, Legit.ng reported that investigators have disclosed unsettling cockpit audio from Air India Flight 171, uncovering an eerie exchange moments before the jet crashed in India, killing all passengers except one on June 12, 2025.
As the aircraft lifted off from Ahmedabad, both fuel-control switches abruptly shifted to the 'cut-off' position, an action typically reserved for post-landing procedure, causing both engines to lose power.
Seconds later, according to the recovered cockpit audio, one pilot was heard asking, 'Why did you cut off the switches?', to which the other pilot responded, 'I didn't'.
Source: Legit.ng
