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Recently, a British Airways pilot was kidnapped and assaulted during a brief stopover in South Africa. 

The unfortunate incident happened when the pilot was shopping alone in Johannesburg, which is South Africa’s biggest city and the capital of the Gauteng province. An unnamed source told British tabloid newspaper media The Sun how the pilot was approached by a woman seeking help with her bags.

Subsequently, a group of masked men forcefully took the pilot to a remote location, where he allegedly endured hours of torture and physical assaults. The assailants aimed to coerce him into surrendering money and bank details. 

“It’s staggering what happened to the pilot. It was like something out of the movies,” a source told The Sun. “He fell for the scam of agreeing to help a woman in need, and before he knew it was bundled in a vehicle and driven away.”

“He then endured hours of torture and physical assaults. It only ended when he was left penniless. He is just happy to be alive. The incident has shaken [the] crew.”

Following the incident, the pilot was reportedly deemed unfit to fly back to London, prompting the airline to seek a replacement. The airline later confirmed with an official statement that the staff member had been abducted outside the gated Melrose Arch precinct, one of the most prestigious business addresses in South Africa. 

“A crew member was abducted outside Checkers Bluebird [sic] supermarket just north of the Melrose Arch complex,” a British Airlines spokesperson said in a statement. “We are supporting our colleague and the local authorities with their investigation.”

Second attack in half a year

Previously, in July 2023, another British Airlines veteran pilot went through a similarly harrowing incident. During an outdoor jog in a short stopover between flights, a pilot and his crew member were held at gunpoint. The pilot was later stabbed in his thigh. Similarly, the incident also occurred in Melrose Arch, despite the area being heavily guarded.

“Crew are ordered not to leave the hotel compound. But the captain and crew member decided to risk it and go for a jog,” a British Airlines source told the media. “The incident has really shaken the BA community. Polite reminders have been made about sticking to the rules.”

Recent years have witnessed a surge in kidnappings in South Africa. As per statistics from the South African Police Service, there was a threefold increase from 4,306 cases in 2014 to nearly 15,342 in 2023. Johannesburg, a city with over four million people, accounted for more than half of the recorded kidnappings in 2023.

The rising incidents are attributed to foreign syndicates relocating their operations to South Africa and local groups emulating their methods. 

In light of these incidents, those travelling to or having stopovers in South Africa, especially high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs), must prioritise safety. Avoid interacting with suspicious strangers unless necessary.

Furthermore, it is advisable to consider additional measures such as hiring private security services like Marengo. They can offer tailored security plans for you, including providing close protection or protective surveillance.