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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
World
John Dunne

British Airways stewardess ordered home after drunken row at £2,000-a-night Maldives hotel

British Airways is investigating after a stewardess was ordered home following a drunken altercation at a £2,000-a-night hotel in the Maldives.

The airline worker was flown back to the UK following complaints about the behaviour of her group.

The stewardess, her daughter and a friend had been staying at the Oblu Xperience Ailafushi with the rest of the BA flight team, who had flown from Heathrow to capital Malé last week.

The trio reportedly enjoyed unlimited drinks, as part of an all-inclusive package at the resort before continuing having drinks on a balcony at one of their villas.

However, some hotel guests complained that their stay had been ruined by “screaming and screeching” long into the night.

A fight was then said to have broken out after hotel management warned the trio about their behaviour.

“There was a lot of pushing and shoving, then fists were flying. Onlookers got involved as they tried to break it up. It was the last straw for the hotel. BA was informed and the stewardess was ordered home,” a source told The Sun.

Hotel staff contacted British Airways and threatened to remove the entire crew from the hotel, following the incident.

The stewardess returned to Heathrow last Wednesday, with her daughter and friend flying back the next day.

The airline confirmed it is “investigating the matter”.

According to The Sun, the attendant used a staff travel perk so her daughter and a friend could also take advantage of discounted prices.

BA rules make clear that employees are responsible for the behaviour of anyone travelling under their name.

It is the latest embarrassment for British Airways in the Maldives.

Last year, a crew member ran naked around a buffet at a hotel, while in 2022 staff were banned from drinks deals at another location after a stewardess passed out drunk on a beach.

Meanwhile, an investigation has been launched after a Virgin Atlantic plane crashed into a British Airways jet at Heathrow Airport.

The empty Virgin 787 plane was being towed at Terminal 3 when it clipped the wing of the BA Airbus A350 passenger plane on Saturday, witnesses said.

A Virgin spokesman said: “We are aware that the wingtip of one of our empty aircraft came into contact with another aircraft whilst being towed from the stand at Terminal 3.

“The safety of our customers and crew is always our top priority. We can confirm no customers were on board the Virgin Atlantic aircraft during this time.

“We’ve commenced a full and thorough investigation.”

The Metropolitan Police said: “On Saturday 6 April at 12:09hrs aviation police were made aware of a collision between two aircrafts and a tug vehicle.

“Officers attended the scene and concluded that the aircraft being pulled by the tug hit into the wing of a stationary aircraft.

“There were passengers on board one of the aircrafts at the time of the collision.

“There were no reported injuries.”

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