BA sued over alleged child abuse
British Airways is being sued for damages over claims one of its pilots sexually abused children in African schools and orphanages.
Lawyers insist the airline is responsible because the alleged victims were assaulted by First Officer Simon Wood while on stopovers at orphanages supported by BA, said the BBC.
Wood, 54, from Hertfordshire, was charged with indecent assault of a girl under 16, two counts of making indecent photographs of a child and one count of possessing indecent images of a child.
However, he died when he was hit by a train last August. An inquest into his death has not yet been held.
Law firm Leigh Day said Wood allegedly molested youngsters as young as eight during stopovers in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania while flying for BA, visiting orphanages that were in receipt of charitable donations from the airline.
It said Wood ‘played a key role’ in administering the donations of behalf of BA.
The Crown Prosecution Service said Wood was first arrested over an indecent assault allegation in November 2001, but prosecutors ruled there was insufficient evidence to charge him.
It reconsidered the case after receiving details of similar alleged offences and apparent evidence of indecent images.
A British Airways told the BBC: "We were shocked and horrified to hear the allegations against Simon Wood.
"Our sympathies are with the victims and it is disappointing that the conduct of one person has caused so much distress to the many thousands of decent people who engage in charitable works on a regular basis."
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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