Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Pregnant woman claims British Airways offered champagne ‘as apology’

Parul Patel, 35, was 11 weeks pregnant when the incident occurred

Pregnant woman claims British Airways offered champagne ‘as apology’

A pregnant woman has said that she was assaulted by a fellow passenger on a British Airways flight and claimed the airline responded by offering her a bottle of champagne as an apology.

Parul Patel, 35, was 11 weeks pregnant when the incident occurred during her return flight from Amsterdam to Heathrow on 19 August. While waiting to get off the plane, she says a man pushed her, accusing her of cutting in line, and threatened to punch her in the face.


Shaken by the encounter, Parul reported the altercation to the cabin crew, but she was left frustrated by the airline’s response, feeling her concerns were not taken seriously.

"I actually felt like this man was going to hurt me. I felt I was made to be the bad guy and I now feel fearful to confront anyone about anything," she was quoted as saying.

Patel, a business analyst from Watford, Hertfordshire, had been on a short holiday with her partner, Dhiren Raghvani, when the incident happened.

Instead of feeling supported after the threatening exchange, she was handed a bottle of champagne, which she described as an inappropriate gesture given the severity of the situation.

"I was in shock," she said. "The whole experience left me fearful. I asked for security assistance, but instead, I was handed a bottle of champagne, which didn’t make any sense for what I’d gone through."

Following the incident, Patel's distress only worsened when she encountered the same man in the arrivals hall, where he continued to insult her and her unborn child.

According to reports, her attempts to seek justice were hindered when police said they couldn’t take action, as there was no substantial evidence against the man.

The Asian woman expressed her disappointment with the lack of support from both the airline and authorities, stating that the whole ordeal left her feeling vulnerable and questioning her safety.

"I struggled to sleep for a week after it happened. As a new mum and pregnant with my second child, I now feel scared to confront anyone. It's made me question my safety, especially as we hear so much about violence against women. It was so demoralising. I felt like I was made out to be the bad guy, when in reality, I was the one being threatened and assaulted," she said.

British Airways has since responded, saying they do not tolerate abuse against customers or staff, and confirmed that the matter had been reported to the police. However, when she followed up, the airline offered her a £50 voucher.

British Airways said: "We do not tolerate any kind of abuse against our colleagues or customers. A member of our cabin crew team offered assistance to our customer when this incident was brought to their attention, and it has been reported to the police."

The Metropolitan Police confirmed the altercation was reported but found no evidence to support the woman's claims after speaking with witnesses.

More For You

Helicopter crash in Himalayas kills seven, including toddler

National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) carry out a rescue operation after a helicopter carrying seven people on board, on its way to Guptkashi, crashed near Gaurikund, in Rudraprayag. (@uksdrf X/ANI Photo)

Helicopter crash in Himalayas kills seven, including toddler

SEVEN people including a toddler were killed on Sunday (15) in India when a helicopter ferrying Hindu pilgrims from a shrine crashed in the Himalayas, officials said.

The fatal accident comes as relatives mourn at least 279 people killed when a passenger plane slammed into a residential area in the western Indian city of Ahmedabad on Thursday (12).

Keep ReadingShow less
Starmer orders national inquiry into child sexual abuse

Prime Minister Keir Starmer. (Photo by JORDAN PETTITT/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Starmer orders national inquiry into child sexual abuse

PRIME MINISTER Sir Keir Starmer has announced a full statutory national inquiry into child sexual abuse, reversing his earlier position following months of mounting pressure, including criticism from US billionaire Elon Musk.

The decision comes after an audit conducted by Baroness Louise Casey recommended a national investigation into the scale and nature of group-based child sexual abuse. The inquiry will cover England and Wales and will have statutory powers under the Inquiries Act, allowing it to compel witnesses to provide evidence.

Keep ReadingShow less
Staying up late may speed up brain decline, researchers warn

A one-hour delay in sleep routine is linked to a sharper drop in cognition over time, the study found

iStock

Staying up late may speed up brain decline, researchers warn

A night owl, or an evening person with a late sleep-wake cycle, could be at a higher risk of cognitive decline with age compared to an early bird or a morning person, a study has found.

Chronotype refers to one’s sleep-wake type or times during the day when one naturally tends to be awake and asleep. A ‘night owl’ chronotype is said to have a later sleep-wake cycle, compared to an ‘early bird’ or a ‘lark’.

Keep ReadingShow less
Top 10 Films That Shaped Shivam Khajuria’s Journey

Shivam Khajuria

Top 10 films that shaped Shivam Khajuria

Popular actor Shivam Khajuria has showcased his impressive talent in top TV serials such as Molkki, Mann Sundar and Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai.

He is currently displaying that range in the hugely popular drama Anupamaa, earning wide acclaim. Away from the small screen, the television star is also a passionate cinema lover. He shared his all-time favourite films with Eastern Eye.

Keep ReadingShow less
WTC winner

Temba Bavuma of South Africa lifts the ICC World Test Championship Mace with teammates following his team's victory on Day Four of the WTC final against Australia at Lord's Cricket Ground on June 14. (Photo: Getty Images)

Getty Images

Markram century powers South Africa to WTC title at Lord’s

AIDEN MARKRAM's century helped South Africa secure a five-wicket win over Australia in the World Test Championship final at Lord’s on Saturday. With this result, South Africa claimed their first major global title in men’s cricket.

Set 282 to win, South Africa reached the target before lunch on the fourth day, finishing on 282-5. Markram was dismissed for 136 after bringing his team to within six runs of victory.

Keep ReadingShow less