A British Airways flight attendant was arrested at London Heathrow Airport after allegedly taking drugs mid-flight and being found dancing naked in a business class lavatory aboard an Airbus A380 traveling from San Francisco to London.
The bizarre incident, which occurred at 37,000 feet with nearly 470 passengers onboard, has sparked a police investigation and raised serious concerns about in-flight crew safety and conduct.
The drama unfolded during a ten-and-a-half-hour transatlantic journey when the crew member failed to return to his duties during the meal service.
As flight attendants began distributing food throughout the aircraft’s double-decker cabin, they realized one of their colleagues had gone missing. A search led to a shocking discovery—he was found completely nude, disoriented, and dancing inside a Club World lavatory.
Crew members immediately acted to manage the situation. They dressed the steward in spare First Class pyjamas and moved him to a premium seat where he remained under supervision for the remainder of the flight.
The in-flight supervisor alerted British Airways management, who then contacted law enforcement. Upon the plane’s arrival at Heathrow around 11 a.m. on Sunday, police officers boarded the aircraft and arrested the flight attendant. Medical staff were also on-site and assisted the steward, who was reportedly unable to walk unassisted and was wheeled off the plane for further medical evaluation.
British Airways has suspended the flight attendant pending a full investigation. In a brief statement, the airline said, “We do not tolerate unruly behavior and are fully supporting the authorities with their inquiries.”
An anonymous crew member described the incident as “career-ending” and “extraordinary,” suggesting the steward may have taken pills either before or during the flight. “Rather than asking passengers ‘chicken or beef,’ he was stripping off and staging a disco in the toilet,” the colleague told The Sun. “It’s reckless, dangerous, and unlike anything we’ve experienced on a commercial flight.”
The rest of the cabin crew continued working without their scheduled breaks, ensuring passenger services were maintained. The airline has not reported any disruption to passengers as a result of the event.
The case has now moved into the hands of law enforcement. British Airways emphasized that the matter is being treated as a criminal investigation and not merely an internal disciplinary issue.
This incident highlights the critical importance of crew sobriety and mental fitness in aviation, particularly as the airline industry continues to rebuild trust and safety following years of global disruption. The FAA and global aviation regulators have long warned of the dangers of substance misuse among crew members, and this episode is likely to renew calls for even stricter oversight and mental health support.