Intention To Help A Woman, This Pilot Was Kidnapped, Beaten And His Bank Account Drained

Pilot illustration. (Unsplash/Celeb Woods)

JAKARTA - A British Airways pilot who stopped in South Africa was reportedly kidnapped, tortured and beaten by robbers who then drained thousands of pounds from his bank account, leaving him furious.

The attack came while the pilot was in Johannesburg for two days with his crew. It was the second serious attack on British Airways staff in the city in six months.

The five-hour attack began when he left a safe private building where the crew was staying, to go to the nearest supermarket.

When he returned to the compound, a woman asked if he could help load his groceries.

He was then approached by a masked man who forced him into the back of the vehicle and took him to a house, where he was detained and attacked when the gang tried to access his bank account.

"It's really shocking what happened to the pilot. It's like something is coming out of the film," a source told The Sun, quoted by CNN January 13.

"He was deceived because he agreed to help a woman in need, and before he realized it, the woman was put in the vehicle and taken away," he said.

"He then suffered physical torture and assault for hours. It only ended when the money. He was happy to be alive," he said.

According to the UK Government's latest travel advice, South Africa is one of the countries with the highest death rates in the world and violent crimes can occur anywhere, including at tourist destinations and transportation centers'.

According to official figures, there are about 75 killings daily in South Africa, compared to about two killings per day in England and Wales.

Due to the threat of crime, British Airways has imposed strict rules against crews living in Johannesburg, including not leaving their safe complexes.

Last year, a British Airways captain was stabbed in the leg after running in the city in July.

The pilot lives in the same Melrose Arch complex, north of the city in the financial district, as he ran and was held at gunpoint. During the fight, the pilot was stabbed.

"We support our colleagues and local authorities in their investigation," a BA spokesman said after the latest attack.