A senior first officer at British Airways, Mike Beaton, found himself at the center of a scandal that led to his dismissal from the airline. Scheduled to operate an Airbus A380 for flight BA56 from Johannesburg, South Africa, to London Heathrow, United Kingdom, on August 27, Beaton’s layover in Johannesburg took a shocking turn.
Reports emerged that the pilot had engaged in inappropriate behavior during his layover in South Africa, including allegations of drug use and explicit activities. According to sources, he allegedly snorted cocaine off a topless woman, leading to the cancellation of the flight just before takeoff.
Beaton had apparently shared explicit details of his wild night out with a cabin crew member, considered a friend by the pilot. The revelations came to light through a series of text messages exchanged with the flight attendant. In the messages, he bragged about participating in what he referred to as a “drug and drink orgy” and boasted about engaging in “naughty” antics with two local men, a Spanish woman, and a Welsh tourist.
He described a visit to a flat owned by one of the men, where the group allegedly indulged in the consumption of class A drugs, including cocaine. One of the text messages read “I’ve lost my shirt somewhere and one of the local lads produces a plate with a few lines of coke”, while another one mentioned “a debate about whose chest is the best to do a bump off”.
After the cabin crew member reported the pilot, British Airways cancelled the 12-hour flight, incurring an estimated cost of €115,100. Beaton was then returned to the UK as a passenger on the following day. He was suspended and promptly subjected to a drug test. With a positive result, British Airways proceeded to his immediate termination.
In response to the incident, the airline issued a statement emphasizing “safety is always our top priority. The matter was referred to the CAA (Civil Aviation Authority), and this individual no longer works for us”.
The repercussions of Beaton’s actions extended beyond the airline’s decision. The British CAA withdrew his medical certificate, effectively banning him from flying until further notice. A CAA spokesperson further elaborated on the typical course of action following such incidents by adding that “In most cases, the pilot would have an assessment with an expert medical team and if they wished to return to flying, then a comprehensive rehabilitation program would be put in place. At the end of that process the medical would only be reinstated if we were completely satisfied”.
