British Airways has been fined more than £3.2 million following two serious workplace accidents at Heathrow Airport. The incident included a luggage handler that fell from a television from a specialized loading device used to move the luggage to the aircraft.
Two nearly identical accidents at Heathrow
The accident occurred in 2022 and 2023, causing serious injuries to two British Airlines employees. In August 2022, Ravinder Teji fell nearly 1.5 meters while working on a short flight. He suffered a back injury and cut his head. Just seven months later, in March 2023, Shajahan Malik fell three metres, unloading his luggage from a flight arriving from Seattle. His injuries included brain hemorrhage, facial fractures and long-term neurological symptoms.
Both men were television operators who lacked proper protection such as Guardrails. The lack of these safety measures led to what South Work Crown Court was described as being highly responsible for the airline. Judge Brendan Finucane KC said the injured injuries were devastating and proper safeguards could have hindered them.
Breakdown of court decisions
Following the charges by the Health and Safety Administration (HSE), British Airways pleaded guilty to two counts of violations of safety regulations. The court has collected a fine of £3,208,333 and ordered the airline to pay an additional legal fee of £20,935.
Incisitetemployeedatefall heightinjuriesshort-haul flight loadingravinder tejiagust 20221.5 Meterback injury, head shooting flight unloadingshahjahan Malikmarch 20233 Metersbrain Bleed, multiple fractures
Judge Finukan said Malik's recovery was long and painful, saying he had to sew his jaw and needed a liquid diet for several months. He continues to suffer from headaches and chronic pain as a result of his fall.
Health and Safety Executives will respond
After the verdict, HSE enforcement lawyer Rebecca Schwartz highlighted the avoidable nature of the case. She said that both workers are “lucky to be alive” and that installing appropriate guardrails would significantly reduce the risk of harm.
“The risks and necessary control measures of working at height are well established,” she added, highlighting British Airways' failure to implement basic safety protocols.
British Airways' reaction and aftermath
In court, British Airways expressed “deep regret” about the incident. James Leonard KC, who represents the airline, said both employees returned to work in revised roles and that BA made every effort to assist with rehabilitation and adapt the workplace.
In an official statement, the BA spokesman repeatedly reiterated his commitment to the company's safety. “Safety has always been a top priority and despite the measures that have occurred, we deeply regret it.”
British Airways has since implemented additional safety controls, but the court's ruling sends a clear message about employer liability in high-risk environments such as airports.
Workplace safety under global scrutiny
The case highlights the ongoing challenge of maintaining safety standards with a fast-paced travel hub like Heathrow. With thousands of ground crews working every day to ensure flight operations run smoothly, even mild equipment safety can have life-changing consequences.
This case may encourage other airlines and terrestrial service providers to reevaluate the protocol, particularly for tasks that involve working at heights and operating specialized machines.
For more information about the original report, see the full BBC article.
