British Airways Pilot Stabbed, Held at Gunpoint During Layover in South Africa

A veteran pilot at British Airways was reportedly attacked while on a run with a fellow BA crew member in the South African city of Johannesburg. 

The Incident 

According to British tabloid newspaper The Sun, A British Airways captain as well as another crew member — both names undisclosed — left their hotel in the Melrose Arch neighborhood of Johannesburg to go for a run. While the full details of the incident are unknown, what is known is that the pilot was held at gunpoint by an aggressive person. Shortly after this, the potentially violent situation turned bloody, with the BA pilot being stabbed in the thigh. After the aggressor fled, the pilot was rushed to the hospital, where they received treatment. 

A Violation of Company Policy

According to aviation news website Simple Flying, "...British Airways reportedly has strict rules in place for the safety of its crew in South Africa. Crew members are not allowed to leave a security-approved area in which their hotel is located. Unruly and unsafe areas of Johannesburg are otherwise considered off-limits to crew members during their layovers in the city." 

The response to the incident by British Airways, given in the form of multiple statements is rather brutal and honest. "The rules are there for a reason. Crew are ordered not to leave the hotel compound. But the captain and crew member decided to risk it and go for a jog. Soon after, they were followed and held up at gunpoint. During a melee, the captain was stabbed in the leg. It was a harrowing ordeal. The pilot was taken to hospital. Everyone is just so thankful he's okay. It could have been so much worse...The incident has really shaken the BA community. Polite reminders have been made about sticking to the rules..."

As previously mentioned, the area of Johannesburg in which the pilot and cabin crew members were staying is supposed to be one of the safest areas of the South African metropolis. Melrose Arch features numerous shops, restaurants, and leisure spots, all of which are patrolled by security guards around the clock. 

In the aftermath of the attack, a new group of pilots and cabin crew members were dispatched to operate the return British Airways flight from Johannesburg back to the United Kingdom. The route that the injured BA captain was flying is unknown, but most likely between Johannesburg and London (LHR). According to Simple Flying, passengers were unaware that the incident with the cabin crew had occurred. 

Early in the week of July 10, the wounded British Airways pilot was released from the hospital and traveled back to the United Kingdom to continue recovery. 

Despite the airline's initially harsh reaction, in regard to the incident, BA has offered both the pilot and cabin crew member involved in the violent incident additional time away from flying as well as counseling to cope with trauma obtained from the attack. 

Increasing Violence in South Africa

Attacks such as this one are becoming ever more common across South Africa, as the country has experienced a drastic increase in its crime rates as well as civil unrest in recent years. This is primarily due to the countries' failing power grid, mismanagement by political officials, as well as the ever-lasting legacy of segregation (known as Apartheid) in the African nation. 

The situation in South Africa has gotten so out of hand that the UK government has alerted travelers of terrorism towards British nationals in South Africa.