BA steward wins compensation over flying ban

A British Airways steward who blamed in-flight risotto for his illness has won £8,500 compensation after being banned from flying.

Frank Duckworth, 51, was hospitalised hours after eating the food on a flight from London to Las Vegas in 2010, reports the Daily Mail.

The steward said the risotto aggravated existing medical conditions - diabetes and coeliac disease - but was the only meal option offered to him.

When he returned to the UK, a doctor appointed by BA said he was unfit to fly.

An employment tribunal has ordered BA to pay for "injury to feelings" and loss of earnings, claiming Mr Duckworth had been a victim of disability discrimination.

In a written judgment, the judge said staff had not acted quickly enough to get Mr Duckworth onto short haul flights, after he was cleared to fly in July 2011 by another medical expert.

The tribunal awarded Mr Duckworth £6,000 compensation 'in respect of injury to feelings' and £2,505.60 for loss of earnings he would have received in long-haul cabin crew on top of his basic wage.

No costs were awarded to either party.

Mr Duckworth said: 'I"ve been attempting to return to work as an air steward since October 2010, I"ve been passed fit by BA"s own doctor for flying duties since July 21, 2011, and yet I was only allowed to return to flying duties for the first time on May 13, 2012.'

Talia Barsam, representing BA, disputed claims the company had failed to make 'reasonable adjustments' to Mr Duckworth"s working life so that he could continue to do his job despite his disability.

She said: 'All of the transfers going on were being looked at simultaneously and given the nature and complexity of managing a number of cabin crew suffering with disabilities, it"s not surprising it takes the time period it takes."

Friday 22nd June 2012