Scottish pilot loses his case in BA 'racist' fight

A SCOTTISH pilot is facing a £4,400 legal bill after claims that he was racially abused by British Airways colleagues were dismissed by an employment tribunal.

Captain Douglas Maughan, who said he was called a "Jock" who should go back to Scotland, was defeated on a legal technicality after he admitted he had not followed the BA complaints procedure.

The judge said he could appeal against a written warning he received from BA at a further hearing on 11 June. During the Watford tribunal, the 54-year-old, who has an Asian wife, said the company had a "canteen culture of racism". He said he tried to alert senior management to the abuse, but was told it was a private matter. Mr Maughan said one flight officer complained to him that there were too many Asians living in Britain. He also claimed an English pilot sent him racially abusive letters and emails calling him a "Jock" after he wrote an article for the staff magazine.

Mr Maughan, who has 29 years' flying experience, was given a final written warning from BA. He claims the warning was part of a campaign of victimisation. A BA spokesman said it would "vigorously defend" Mr Maughan's appeal against his written warning. "Any reports made by staff about racist behaviour are investigated as a matter of priority," he added.