A British Airways worker is on the run in India after charging customers £25,000 to use a loophole to fly to the UK.
The 24-year-old supervisor, who was working at Heathrow’s Terminal 5, supposedly charged the fee to ensure customers could fly with BA without vital visa documents.
Police have been in contact with Indian officials to hunt down the suspect.
The worker disappeared alongside his BA ground services partner after being arrested and bailed.
British Airways flight taking off in the heat at Heathrow Airport
PA
The scam included the man getting clients, mostly from India, to fly to the UK on a temporary visitor visa where he arranged for them to jet elsewhere.
Other customers included UK-based asylum claimants who feared being returned to their country of origin.
Following BA flights to Toronto and Vancouver, Canadian authorities raised an alarm about arrivals immediately declaring asylum.
A probe found all were checked in by the same man who falsely verified the travellers had an electronic travel authorisation to enter a chosen country.
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Crowds wait for details of their flights at Heathrow Terminal five
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An electronic travel authorisation can be obtained by a passenger only in their country of origin.
It would have been rejected without the BA supervisor’s help.
The man was arrested on January 6 but was soon put on bail.
He flew to India, where he has bought several homes, from Heathrow soon after.
People at Border Control in Terminal Five of London's Heathrow Airport
PA
A source told The Sun: “He exploited a loophole knowing that immigration checks are no longer carried out by officials but are left to airline staff.
“By inputting wrong data, and claiming eTA documents had been secured, he got people to countries they had no permission to enter in the first place.
“On arrival, the bogus passengers would shred their documents and claim asylum.
“Many jetted to Britain to pay him to get them to Canada.
A British Airways planes at Heathrow Airport
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“Others had been stuck in the UK immigration system for up to 10 years, and feared being sent back to their country of origin.
“It was an ingenious plan which has made him millions over the years.
“No-one knows yet the full extent of what’s gone on.”
The supervisor and his partner had their contracts terminated by BA, the airline has confirmed.
A spokesman said: “We’re assisting the authorities with their investigation.”
