Who was Irfan Ali Mirza? British Airways flight attendant, 45, found dead in San Francisco hotel room
A British Airways flight attendant was reportedly discovered dead in his hotel room in San Francisco. 45-year-old Irfan Ali Mirza failed to report to duty on Thursday, April 17, following which concerns were raised. He had arrived in San Francisco on a flight from London Heathrow on Tuesday and was staying in a crew hotel there. There was a two-day layover before the return journey.
Hotel managers found Mirza dead on the bed after unlocking his room and entering it. His body was taken by the medical examiner, and responding officers' investigation of the scene "did not discover any evidence of foul play,' police said, according to The Mirror.
Mirza, a father of three, was from London and is believed to have worked in the industry for more than 20 years, the outlet reported. According to MailOnline, the youngest of his children was a baby born last year.
A source previously told The Sun, 'The steward was a popular member of the team and this came as a bolt from the blue. The grim reality is that he may have been dead in his bed for some time.'
Mirza's brother, Kamran Mirza, called the incident 'heartbreaking' on social media. "Cannot express how hard it is that Irfan left his parents, us three siblings and his wife and three young children behind. It's totally heartbreaking... It has really shocked me and the rest of the family that Irfan is not with us anymore. Cannot express what we are going through right now,' he said.
"We both were born in the same month, June, only four days apart. There were times we celebrated our birthday at the same time. Now that moment will never come again. It's heartbreaking,' he added.
Mirza's youngest brother, Rizzy Mirza, also mourned the loss, saying, 'I cannot begin to express the sudden loss of my beautiful brother. It really has cut the family deep. Looking at all your lovely messages brings me some peace knowing that my brother was well loved and respected amongst you all."
Mirza's younger sister, Amber, recalled childhood memories, saying, "He guided me throughout my whole life and his loss now has deeply affected us all. I know he loved his job and always has great stories to tell when he got back. Seeing all these lovely messages remembering him brings a smile to know he was loved and respected. His memory lives on forever in our hearts."
The BA 284 flight from San Francisco International Airport to London Heathrow, which was scheduled to depart at 4.20 pm on April 17, was cancelled after Mirza's death. While passengers were not told the reason for the cancellation, they were given hotel rooms and authorities made alternate arrangements.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hans India
2 days ago
- Hans India
NHRC takes suo motu cognisance of Hyderabad man's death due to alleged police torture
New Delhi: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken suo motu cognisance of the death of a 35-year-old auto-rickshaw driver, who was allegedly subjected to physical torture at a police station in Hyderabad. The apex human rights body issued a notice to the Telangana Director General of Police (DGP) and called for a detailed report on the matter within two weeks. Taking note of a media report, the NHRC said that the allegations, if true, raise a serious violation of the human rights of the victim. The deceased Mohd Irfan was allegedly subjected to third-degree torture by Rajendranagar Police after his wife's relatives took him there to resolve matrimonial issues. After counselling the couple, the police took Irfan to a room and beat him badly with rubber belts, claimed a family member of the deceased. When he came out of the Rajendranagar Police Station, the deceased started vomiting and collapsed. He was taken to the hospital, where he was declared dead by the doctors. On the other hand, the police lodged a case under Section 194 (suspicious death) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) and took a complaint from the wife of Irfan, stating that the deceased was maintaining an extramarital relationship with a woman. Established under the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, the NHRC, an autonomous statutory body, is an embodiment of India's concern for the promotion and protection of human rights. Its primary role is to protect and promote human rights, defined as the rights relating to life, liberty, equality, and dignity of individuals guaranteed by the Constitution or embodied in the International Covenants and enforceable by courts in India. The apex human rights body has the power to take suo motu (on its own motion) action based on media reports, public knowledge or other sources, without receiving a formal complaint of human rights violations.
India Gazette
3 days ago
- India Gazette
Pakistan must end terror support and stop blaming India, says UK-based activist Dr Amjad Ayub Mirza
London [UK], June 4 (ANI): Dr Amjad Ayub Mirza, a political analyst and human rights advocate from Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir based in the UK, has termed the latest charges against India by Pakistani authorities as 'baseless and misleading,' in an exclusive interview with ANI. 'A classic example of psychological projection by a state long implicated in terrorism across the region,' he said of the accusations. Dr. Mirza's remarks came in response to Field Marshal Asim Munir and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's recent visit to Balochistan, where they accused India of supporting terrorism in Pakistan during talks with tribal elders in Quetta. According to Dr. Mirza, these narratives are outdated and aimed at deflecting attention from Pakistan's long history of sponsoring terrorism. He highlighted that the international community has repeatedly acknowledged Pakistan's role in fostering terrorism. The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has consistently placed Pakistan on its grey list for failing to address money laundering and terror financing. Terror groups such as Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) reportedly operate under covert state protection despite international criticism. Dr. Mirza also pointed to Pakistan's continued support for UN-designated terrorists including Hafiz Saeed, Masood Azhar, and Dawood Ibrahim--individuals held responsible for major terrorist attacks like the 2008 Mumbai attacks and the 2019 Pulwama bombing--who remain free and protected by the state. He condemned Pakistan's brutal suppression of the Baloch freedom movement through Islamist militias and military forces. Citing reports from international human rights organizations like Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, Dr. Mirza noted widespread abuses in Balochistan, including extrajudicial killings, torture, and enforced disappearances. He said these violations expose Pakistan's true internal policies and contradict its attempts to blame others. Dr. Mirza asserted that terrorism remains a tool of Pakistan's state policy. He recalled how former President Pervez Musharraf admitted to supporting militant groups to 'internationalise' the Kashmir conflict. He added that this deliberate use of terror has caused chronic instability and suffering in South Asia. In conclusion, Dr. Mirza urged Pakistan to abandon baseless propaganda and take genuine steps toward accountability and reform. He called on the Pakistani government to demilitarise Balochistan, halt human rights abuses, and dismantle its terror infrastructure, which is widely condemned internationally. He stressed that India remains committed to peace, cooperation, and dialogue based on mutual respect and responsibility--principles Pakistan must embrace for true regional harmony. (ANI)
Time of India
3 days ago
- Time of India
Six Chilling Ways Putin's Russia Could Destroy the UK Within Hours: British Government Warns
Live Events FAQs (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel Britain might be hit by waves of kamikaze drones , missiles, and cyber hacks if a war with Russia happens soon. The UK Ministry of Defence says the country is not ready for a full-on war like this. The SDR report is 144 pages long and shows how vulnerable Britain is, as per military bases of the UK are now under constant threat of a possible Russian targeted attack, with sophisticated drones, long-range cruise, ballistic and hypersonic missiles, all on the table for the Kremlin. Key UK targets: Navy bases in Portsmouth, Plymouth, and Clyde. Overseas targets: RAF Akrotiri , Al Minhad Air Base, and Diego Garcia, as per Mail Online report.A digital army of Russian hackers might attack UK government websites, the stock market, communications, and power saboteurs could attack oil rigs, satellite systems, and merchant ships. They might also try to stop trade ships and harm industries that help the UK military. Russia could spread lies and fake news to confuse people, cause panic, and divide society. Russia might damage or block space-based communication systems the UK depends on. UK troops and military spots outside Britain could also be hit hard, as per defences are weak right now, low missile stock, poor recruitment, low morale. The UK's current defences are not enough to stop drone or missile swarms like the ones seen in Ukraine, Israel, and Russia. Recent attacks by Ukraine's cheap kamikaze drones showed how powerful even small weapons can be. Ukraine used vans and drones to destroy two secret Russian airbases, costing Russia £5.2 billion in damage, as per Mail Secretary John Healey said £1 billion will go to boost air and missile defences and start a cyber and electromagnetic warfare unit. £1.5 billion will be spent to build at least six new munitions factories in the UK. The UK plans to buy 7,000 long-range British-made weapons. Britain plans on pushing the defence budget, with more funds for homes for military jets might carry nuclear weapons again. British troops in Estonia will get hundreds of new kamikaze drones called HX-2. The UK cadet force will grow to 250,000 school students for a 'whole of society' defence system, as stated in the United Kingdom is at risk of a potential Russian attack, with reports suggesting that a string of drone attacks, economic sabotage, cyber hacks and propaganda are being prepped by the Kremlin. The country is not well-prepared today, but the government is planning new defences, more weapons, and stronger forces. Experts say it's time for a huge shift in mindset to keep the UK safe in the future, as mentioned in the Mail Online could use drones, missiles, cyber hacks, and fake news to cause say the UK is not fully prepared but is working on improving defences.
