A British Airways pilot’s stopover in Johannesburg took a harrowing turn after he was kidnapped and tortured in an incident straight out of a movie.
How a British Airways pilot was kidnapped on a stopover in Johannesburg
The pilot, who was on a layover between flights, fell victim to a scam that began innocuously in a supermarket parking lot and ended in a terrifying ordeal.
The incident unfolded outside the Checkers supermarket in Melrose, Johannesburg, where the pilot was approached by a woman asking for help with her bags.
As he reached her car, he was ambushed by a group of men, who forced him into the vehicle and drove him to a remote area of the city. Here, he endured hours of physical abuse and was coerced into handing over thousands of pounds.
British Airways has confirmed the incident, stating they are supporting their colleague and aiding local authorities with the investigation. The pilot, now recovering at home, was deemed unfit to continue his duties, necessitating a replacement pilot for the return flight to London.
A spokesperson from the airline elaborated on the incident, noting,
“A crew member was abducted outside Checkers Bluebird supermarket just north of the Melrose Arch complex.”
The crew of the British Airways flight has been left shaken by the event, which ended only when the pilot was left penniless.
This is not the first such incident involving British Airways staff in Johannesburg.
In a separate occurrence last July, a BA captain was held at gunpoint, robbed, and stabbed in the leg while jogging near Melrose Arch. These events have raised concerns over the safety of airline crew during stopovers in the city.
South Africa, particularly Johannesburg, has a history of high crime rates, including incidents of kidnapping and violent assaults. The Foreign Office warns of the prevalence of crimes such as carjacking and robbery in the region.