A British Airways flight crew was left terrified when held-up at gunpoint by a bandit in the Brazilian city of Rio
BA steward Michael Nicholas described the terrifying incident in a Facebook post
A BRITISH Airways flight crew was left terrified when held-up at gunpoint by a bandit in the Brazilian city of Rio.
The 11 colleagues were on a ten-minute walk back to their hotel from a barbecue when the single robber pounced.
Air steward Michael Nicholas, 45, revealed Tuesday night's ordeal on his Facebook page entitled: "Urgent update from Rio."
He said: "One of our crew had a gun held to his face while his son and him were robbed.
"Half of us were unaware anything was going on behind us until we heard the commotion. Luckily, the son gave the robber his phone and money and they left.
"We are all safe and well but a little shaken. The local police refused to attend the hotel and BA security are on the case and dealing with this."
Michael, of Preston Candover, Hants., added: "PLEASE, if you are venturing out of the hotel in RIO after dark, take a taxi and pass on this message to all crew travelling to Rio...stay safe."
The Foreign Office says on its website visitors to Brazil should be "ready to hand over valuables if you're threatened - don't resist attackers, they may be armed and under the influence of drugs."
It urges people to take extra care when visiting popular tourist traps like Copacabana and Ipanema beaches.
A BA spokesman said: "We are supporting our crew and are thankful that they weren't harmed.
"We take the safety of our pilots and cabin crew very seriously and issue them with information and advice for all the destinations to which we fly - specifying any extra precautions that should be taken in particular cities.
We will be reiterating our advice to crew operating to Rio de Janeiro, including that they should remain vigilant when outside the hotel. We will now also be advising that they book taxis when travelling around the city.”
BA operates a daily 11 hour flight to Rio from Heathrow and crews usually have a three night stopover before returning.
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