I originally posted this on the entertainment section under Naomi's BA trauma but felt its appropriate place was here for all to see.This is a true story actually happened to my cousin.As we allude to on BNV this is not exactly a surprise the thing though is to push the law right up their azz letting them know they cannot treat tax paying British citizens like this

On the 27th of March 2008 at about 12:30pm, I boarded the British Airways flight BA75 and I went straight to seat 53C.
On getting to my seat, there were noises from an individual being forcibly restrained but who was not visible because some police officers and some plain clothes people held him down. The noise continued for more than 20 minutes and I was concerned because the individual was screaming in agony and shouting in pidgin English “I go die” meaning, I will die. I pleaded with the officers not to kill him and my exact words were “please don’t kill him”. The British Airways staff said that the officers were doing their jobs and that nothing was going to happen. The noise became louder and other passengers started getting concerned and were complaining especially about their safety. The situation continued for another 15 minutes after I got on.

Eventually, a member of the cabin crew announced that the passenger was going to be removed and the passenger was removed from the plane and we all thought that was the end of the situation. Five minutes later, two members of the cabin crew arrived with about 4 police officers and told me to get off the plane. I asked what the matter was and they said that I was not going to travel with the airline because the cabin crew thought I had been disruptive by questioning the noise being caused by the person that was removed. I pleaded with them that I was going for my brother’s wedding and that I had all his stuff with me. I was dragged out of the plane as if I was resisting arrest. As we got to the corridor that linked the plane with the terminal building, I was slammed against the wall and made to sit on the floor. I was still pleading with them telling them that they had completely misunderstood me and that I was only complaining about the situation regarding the disturbances caused by the deportee they were trying to restrain and subdue.* I was on the floor for about 20 to 25 minutes.* Another passenger was brought to the corridor as well and he was also pleading with the officers.

I was later put in the back of the police van at about 1:50pm and I was locked up there for about an hour or more still handcuffed. I was formally arrested approximately 2:30pm and my rights were read to me. Before the arrest in the van, I managed to reach for my pocket and brought out my mobile phone. I made some phone calls to my wife, sister and a friend while the low battery sign was on because I was all alone and still handcuffed.
*
I was later driven to the police station where I was formally checked in. I was in police custody for almost 8 hours and later released on bail after the interview with the duty solicitor and the detectives.* I had £473.00 on me which was seized as well as £90.00 sent to my mother in-law from my sister in-law and £1,050.00 given to me by my cousin who is a doctor for the upkeep of his parents in Nigeria. All the money together was £1,613.00. I was told that I would appear in a magistrate court to prove the money was not meant for crime or proceeds of crime. The officer told me that they will like to see traceability and that I needed my payslips and bank account detailing my payments and withdrawals as well as my cousin’s payments and withdrawals.

I was released but without the money. I made my way to terminal 4 and arrived there at about 12:30am but the British Airways kiosks were closed. I was directed to the staff room and told them that I wanted to rebook my trip to Lagos. A lady told me to give her my ticket and she stated that British Airways has banned me from travelling with them indefinitely and that only the managers can use their discretions because I was a ‘disruptive passenger’. I requested for my 2 piece luggage** and she told me that the section will be opened later at about 5:30am and I will be escorted in to collect them. I slept on the chair and waited till about 5:30am and attempted to rebook my ticket but was told that British Airways refused to take me. I decided to go and pick up my stuff and I was told that my luggage were missing. I was handed a form with reference number LONBA****.* At this point, I became totally stranded because I could not leave without my luggage because it contained my brother’s wedding suit, shirts and accessories.

I was on the phone with my wife and she wanted to book an alternative flight that departs at 10:15am so that I could make it for the wedding. This was not possible because British Airways refused to disclose where my luggages were and did not remove my luggage from the flight when they called the police to arrest me.*

On Monday 31st of March, I appeared at the Magistrate court but was told that a decision was made about the £1,613.00 that was seized from me. The police had been granted a further 90 days to hold on to the money pending their investigation. I was given the officer’s details as DC We***er 0208 721 ****. He requested 12 months bank statements and 6 months payslip to prove that the £473.00 that belongs to me was not proceeds of crime and also requested that the £1,050.00 that was given to me by my cousin for his parents should also be traced to my cousin’s 12 months bank statement and 6 months payslip. DC Web****r has promised to write me detailing these requests.

Still on Monday 31st of March 4 days after I was taken off the plane, I made extra efforts to find out the whereabouts of my 2 piece luggage (LONBA****), because they have not been sent to my address as promised by calling the lost baggage section at 13:44hrs and spoke to a man called Neil who said that, it is difficult for them to trace my bags and that there is a strong possibility that they might be in Lagos. He suggested that I should call back in 24 hours.

I will not want to believe that the authorities involved in the situation deliberately or cleverly punished me unnecessarily out of frustration for not being able to restrain or subdue a deportee or that I as a fee paying passenger was accused of affray with violence when I was voicing my concerns about the disturbances caused by the deportees. I never mentioned any abusive or swear words neither was I physically threatening anyone. My luggage mysteriously was lost and I have been banned on all British Airways flights without a chance to say my part of the story to redeem myself.* 200 passengers were asked to leave the flight because they expressed displeasure regarding the disturbances caused by the deportees and the officers trying to restrain him. *My ticket was even refused to be endorsed by BA to enable me to fly with another airline. *I need full compensation of my loss and also a letter of apology from British Airways.

This case would not go down quietly trust me....this was exactly what happened to Toyin from Ligali when the youth was being accosted by the Police and Toyin had the temerity to ask why??

as i said on the naomi thread and i will add
the Met have issues and BA staff have issues
i was on a flight and a man who was travelling with his baby by himself waited ages to be attended to. all he wanted was some hot water to make a baby bottle
one staffer just had a disgusted face on him
previous flights no probs

i think a lot of this all boils down to some bluefoot who have some internal fear of black folk and they channel it this way

Sorry to hear about all the shyte your cousin went through with BA,he certainly has more than enough grounds for compensation.


The bit which is most shocking to me though is that 200 people were asked to leave the flight.How come I havn't heard about this??,my finger is usually on the pulse of all things aviation?

And also is this possible?? (the booting off I mean) especially as pilots dont like to take off with half empty crafts(weight distribution and wot not).

I'm completely flummoxed????

Good Grief!

BA airways can JOG ON, I am going to Sudan end of this year, and I would rather go by Sudan Air , Luftanza, Qatar......then these asswipes

seriously after reading this BA can JOG ON.

the story is nothing short of outragous, however i suspect that post 9/11 any claims for compensation is going to be met with no success whatsoever, i'm pretty sure that the law is that the pilot is king and anything or anyone he deems is a threat to the smooth running of the plane is considered reasonable...

Where i think he will have a claim is the lost of his luggage which is totally down to vexatious action, there is no way that plane took off with luggage not assigned to a passenger....after Lockabie no airline does that...So its obvious that they either couldn't be bothered or that they witheld the mans luggage purposely....

The actions of the police although reasonable if the masn had been detained for drug trafficking offence or immigration offence, is nothing short of disgusting in the light of why he was arrested in the first place... I have to wonder if this holidaymaker had be white and on his/her way to spain whether they would have been subjected to that sort of behaviour from the police...out of order!!!

Heard through the grapevine that security level could have been raised to level 5 and with this order once the Pilot says something the Police move in full swoop no questions asked they just go in like zombies...still this is a violation of our civil liberties and something would be done about this they should have at least explained the reasons for their unwarranteed excessive reaction..
My cousin is looking at the media to blow up this case but then the MET might take out an injunction considering they have all that taxpayers money at their disposal..abused when you pay for their wages takes the piss..
Moving on litigation is expensive and good solicitors and barristers do not come cheap as we are beggining to find out unless you want a fresh grad...
I would very much appreciate if some of you who have been in similar situations have the contact details of some Law Firm that would take up the cause with a somewhat reasonable rate
In addition my cousin is a fully paid up member of Amnesty International so would be interesting what they can or should be able to do...

It could be worth trying to speak to someone from Liberty.

Liberty - Protecting Civil Liberties Promoting Human Rights : Home

@PattyPan
Thanks for that every bit of info is important a friend suggested carrying out some sort of on-line petition for all people of africna descnt to boycott BA services... Lawd knows theres a platitude of airlines out there besdies Terminal 5 is looking very bogey to me!!..time to make our money talk like AAs do we should be taking action and not letting this things slide this one surely wouldn't be

Pilots Hit Out At 'Shambolic' BA Bosses - Yahoo! News UK


My BA loyalties have been tested of late due to your post,Naomi's woes and the T5 debacle.


I'm wondering do Quantas fly to New York???

People are out of order.

Perhaps there was someone on the plane and they didn't want to take any risks...?

Thanks to all those who have written in the next plan is to get a website up and running lamenting all our woes with BA and a possible boycott of their services .Another cousin suffered the same woes travelling en-route to chicago told his US Passport was fake he missed his connecting flight least to say he got a FIRST CLASS ticket justice served!! only just learnt of this.Another friend suffered a delayed fight from Germany i was actually seated they said someone had been using his UK passport too much of a coincidence...
Anyways here is the latest development...At least there is still a sense of justice out there

136 BA passengers removed from jet over deportee row - Mirror.co.uk

@JettBlack @Soofresh
There are enough alternatives out there i'm sure of this...

136 BA passengers removed from jet over deportee row - Mirror.co.uk
************************************************** ********

WoW! that is a breathtaking level of disrespect,i'm really gonna have to think hard about my choice of carrier in future.


Thing is asmartins ive had nothing but pleasant experiences with BA,seriously,even when things have gone wrong they've always been extra accomodating,when my Mum died and I had to fly to NY they moved me to a different class so I could have some space to weep or whatever,when the flight coming back from NY this last time was really bad,the cabin crew were super nice and attentive,one of whom was a sister who was really nice too.

Plus as anyone who has an inkling of who I am by now knows that I am a wee bit skittish about flying and BA transatlantic flights have 4 Rolls Royce engines and lets face it Rolls Royce dont have their rep for nothing and I take all these things into account.

I've had a couple of bad experiences with Virgin with wrenk staff etc.

And forget about me flying Air India,there's no way i'm travelling for 7 hours trapped with all those body odor smells.

So you see my hands are kinda tied.

And I flew american airlines once and didnt really like it,the flight was delayed due to "techincal difficulties" and thats is the VERY LAST thing I wanna hear when i'm about to board a plane.

Dyyyyyyam form the looks of it im gonna have to make like Fat Joe and QE2 it!,he point blank refuses to get on a plane no matter who the company is,lol at least im not that bad.

@JettBlack
I haven't flown with them since going to Germany about 4 years ago...with this Airlines and Immigration they always pick and choose you