First class BA passenger arrested after ‘using phone to film up stewardess’s skirt at 30,000ft’
Businessman Martyn Vaughan, 61, is alleged to have pushed the handset under the 26-year-old attendant’s uniform
A FIRST Class British Airways passenger has been arrested amid claims he used a phone to film up a stewardess’s skirt at 30,000ft.
Businessman Martyn Vaughan, 61, is alleged to have pushed the handset under the 26-year-old attendant’s uniform as she leaned over to serve another passenger.
Vaughan, who had downed free drinks, was detained when his Heathrow flight landed in South Africa and charged with common assault.
He is understood to have verbally admitted the incident and furious BA chiefs have issued him with a life ban.
Onlookers claimed the married dad of two — who drives a £50,000 Porsche — lit up his £6,000 First Class suite with the phone’s torch app before committing the assault on Flight BA0057.
The woman was said to be “distressed and devastated” after the alleged incident a week ago.
In-flight staff including the captain were alerted and radioed ahead to cops, who met the Airbus A380 jet on touchdown.
Vaughan was arrested in his seat by armed officers and interviewed in a Cape Town police station.
He had sunk a fair few drinks
It is understood he denies the offence and claimed he had no phone on the flight.
But several witnesses stepped forward to confirm they had seen him using a handset.
Vaughan, who shares an £850,000 stone farmhouse in Towcester, Northants, with wife Shirley, 61, was later charged.
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He is not thought to have paid his “admission of guilt fine”, so faces a potential court appearance in Cape Town on November 4.
He is not on bail and if he pays his fine will be free to return to the UK.
As a BA First Class passenger, Vaughan had his own in-flight 'suite' boasting a fully flat bed with mattress and duvet.
He also had in-flight soft cotton pyjamas, while fine wines, expensive spirits and gourmet meals were available on tap.
Scots-born Vaughan, MD of manufacturing consultancy firm Bradden Associates, was travelling with a group of pals, including a woman, but they weren’t sitting with him.
A senior BA source said: “He’d had a fair few drinks and was clearly enjoying himself ahead of a sunshine break.
“The crew member felt something up her skirt and turned to see Vaughan whipping his phone away from
beneath her with the torch on.
“Airline bosses were appalled and did the right thing in banning him for life.”
A BA spokeswoman said: “We will support the South African authorities with their investigation.”