A British Airways pilot experienced a terrifying ordeal after being kidnapped in South Africa.
The first officer was on a layover in Johannesburg.
The pilot was at a supermarket when he was asked to assist a woman with shopping bags.
After helping the woman to her car, he was bundled into the vehicle ‘by a group of men.’
The pilot said he was ‘kidnapped and tortured’ by the gang in a robbery and ‘badly roughed up.’
Under the threat of violence, he was forced to hand over ‘thousands of pounds.’
The Sun cited an unnamed source saying ‘he endured hours of torture and physical assaults.’
The BA crew hotel is situated in the safe area of Melrose Arch but the airline advises staff to avoid certain high-crime areas of Johannesburg.
The airline confirmed ‘a crew member was abducted outside Checkers Bluebird supermarket just north of the Melrose Arch complex.’
“We are supporting our colleague and the local authorities with their investigation,” a BA spokesperson said.
Although later released, the first officer was unable to fly the return flight back to the UK.
A replacement pilot was deployed.
