Latest news with #BA284
Daily Mirror
20 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
British Airways bans cabin crew from taking certain photos on layovers
BA has cited security concerns over potential AI-powered location identification as the main reason for the ban, which follows another set of photo rules for staff that was introduced in 2023 British Airways staff have been banned from posting photos during layovers in popular destinations, it has been reported. The UK's flag carrier has implemented strict new social media restrictions aimed at stopping cabin crew from sharing layover snaps from their accommodation in locations such as the Maldives, Cape Town and Singapore. The airline has not implemented the ban in a bid to ruin all of the fun, but instead to mitigate any potential security risks. BA has cited security concerns over potential AI-powered location identification as the main reason for the ban. It claims that sophisticated computer software could analyze seemingly innocent background details to identify specific hotel locations and crew accommodation patterns, potentially putting the flight staff in jeopardy. Now, crew members must delete such photos and videos from their personal accounts, even private ones. Aviation A2Z reports that all British Airways members, including pilots and cabin crew, are affected. Get Ready With Me videos - in which people film themselves putting on their outfit for the day - filmed in hotel rooms and bathrooms are now banned. Outfit of the Day content showing off BA uniform is also on the scrapheap. Fun photos taken in hotel pools, at private beaches and in the lobby areas are also now forbidden. Back in February 2023, BA introduced a raft of new rules that stopped staff from posting videos and pictures while they were "professionally engaged' in their duties. That included workers on security checks, passenger service, and operational activities. Those rules were designed to clamp down on cabin crew members documenting their lives for TikTok and Instagram followers. A ban on sharing photos of crew sat inside aircraft engines was also brought in. Staff were unhappy at the time, with the following backlash leading BA to clarify that crew could still share photos in their uniform, so long as they weren't actively working. In April, a British Airways crew member was found dead in a hotel room during a stopover - although it is not clear if the new photo policy is connected to the tragic event. Concern was raised for Irfan Ali Mirza when the 45-year-old man failed to report for duty on Thursday after staying at the crew hotel in San Francisco, US. He had arrived there on a flight from London Heathrow and had a two-day layover before the return journey. Hotel managers eventually unlocked Irfan's room where they found the father of three dead on the bed. Police said the responding officers' investigation of the scene "did not discover any evidence of foul play" and the body was taken by the medical examiner. The BA 284 flight from San Francisco International Airport to London Heathrow due to depart at 4.20pm on Thursday April 17 was cancelled. One Mile At A Time reported that Mr Mirza's fellow crew members were too upset to fly. BA has been contacted for comment.
Daily Mail
01-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Mystery as British Airways cabin crew member is found dead in his hotel room during San Francisco stopover
A member of British Airways cabin crew was found dead in his hotel room during an American stopover, the airline has confirmed. The male crew member had flown out to San Francisco from the UK on Tuesday, and had been staying in the Californian city before a shift on the return flight. However, he failed to report for duty on Thursday after staying at the crew hotel. sparking concern from his colleagues. After failing to raise him on the phone, hotel managers then unlocked the room, where they found him dead in his bed. The BA 284 flight from San Francisco International Airport to London Heathrow was then cancelled, after being due to depart at 4.20pm on April 17. Passengers were not told why the flight was cancelled, and were given hotel rooms while alternative arrangements were made. Crewmates were reportedly too upset to fly after the grim discovery was made. It was unclear how long he had lain undiscovered - and may have been there for as long as two days. Pilots who had gone on ahead to the airport to prepare for the flight also returned to the hotel to comfort colleagues. British Airways has confirmed that the man was a member of crew. In a statement to the Sun, it said: 'Our thoughts and condolences are with the family and friends of our colleague at this difficult time.' Sources told the newspaper: 'There was no way the flight back from San Francisco could go ahead. Staff were in absolute bits at the sudden loss of their friend. 'The steward was a popular member of the team and this came as a bolt from the blue.' The flight, BA 284, involved an Airbus A380-800, which the airline says can carry up to 469 passengers across four classes. The return journey, BA 285, from London to SFO, was also cancelled the next day after being due to depart London at 10.45am, according to data from aviation analytics firm Cirium. BA, Marriott and local authorities in San Francisco were contacted for further comment. Last year, a British Airways pilot aged 47 died during a stopover between flights on the Caribbean island of St Lucia. The Senior First Officer had collapsed at a luxury hotel in front of shocked guests, according to contemporary reports. His death meant that BA had to cancel a flight from Vieux Fort to London Gatwick.
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Yahoo
Flight Attendant's Body Found in Hotel Room Is Identified After He Failed to Show Up for Work
The British Airways flight attendant who was found dead in a San Francisco hotel room has been identified. The crew member was 45-year-old Irfan Ali Mirza, the County Medical Examiner's Office confirmed with PEOPLE. He was a British resident. "There is no additional information to disclose or further comment at this time," the medical examiner's office said in a statement. Mirza's next of kin has been notified. Mirza was found deceased in a hotel on April 17, around 2:21 p.m. local time, the San Francisco Police Department tells PEOPLE. The officers who reported to the scene did not find any evidence of foul play. Related: No Survivors Found After Plane Hits Power Lines and Crashes into Roadway in Central Illinois The flight attendant checked into the hotel two days ahead of a scheduled return flight to the United Kingdom, according to The Standard and The Telegraph. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Crew members raised concerns about their colleague's whereabouts to hotel management after he failed to show up for work and "didn't answer his phone" on April 17, according to the reports. Related: Qatar Airways Says Staff Handled Passenger Death with 'Dignity' After Couple Is Forced to Sit Next to Dead Body for 4 Hours Mirza was expected to fly on the BA 284 flight from San Francisco International Airport to London Heathrow, taking off at 4:20 p.m. local time. The scheduled flight was ultimately canceled, according to FlightAware. "Our thoughts and condolences are with the family and friends of our colleague at this difficult time," British Airways tells PEOPLE in a statement. Mirza's cause of death has not been disclosed at this time. Read the original article on People
Hindustan Times
23-04-2025
- Hindustan Times
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.
Daily Mirror
23-04-2025
- Daily Mirror
British Airways flight attendant found dead in hotel room in San Francisco
Irfan Ali Mirza failed to report for duty on Thursday after staying at the British Airways hotel in San Francisco, which led to colleagues sharing their concern for the man A British Airways flight attendant has been discovered dead in his hotel room. Concern was raised for Irfan Ali Mirza when the 45-year-old man failed to report for duty on Thursday after staying at the crew hotel in San Francisco, US. He had arrived there on a flight from London Heathrow on Tuesday and had a two-day layover before the return journey. Hotel managers eventually unlocked Irfan's room where they found the father of three dead on the bed. Police said the responding officers' investigation of the scene "did not discover any evidence of foul play" and the body was taken by the medical examiner. It is believed Mirza, from London, had worked in the industry for more than 20 years. Colleagues and relatives expressed their sadness on social media this week. Irfan's brother Kamran Mirza wrote online: "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. "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." The youngest of Mirza's children was a baby born only last year. Mirza's youngest brother, Rizzy Mirza, also thanked his British Airways colleagues for their kind words and stories. Rizzy added: "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." His younger sister Amber said they had a close bond and she treasured amazing childhood memories they made together. She wrote: "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 due to depart at 4.20pm on Thursday April 17 was cancelled. Passengers were not told why the flight was cancelled, and were given hotel rooms while alternative arrangements were made. In a statement to The Sun, British Airways said: "Our thoughts and condolences are with the family and friends of our colleague at this difficult time."
