NEW DELHI: After a shocking attack on the stewardess in her room in a London Hotel by an intruder earlier this week, Air India has decided to Cabin crew to another facility. The airline has taken over the management of Radisson Blu Hotel, London, Heathrow Airportto ensure the safety of the crew until they are moved to a safer location. According to sources, the cabin crew had been complaining to the airline and hotel management for some time about the lack of security at the Radisson Red Hotel at Heathrow Airport.
It was learned that the crew did not feel safe at the property because “there was no video surveillance in many critical areas; hotel staff did not respond to emergency calls; staff were not often present at the reception; strangers frequently knocked on doors and windows from outside; lighting in the hotel was dim; staff entered the rooms without knocking.” Sources add that these issues were “discussed with the hotel several times, but they remained unresolved. As a result, they did not feel safe despite having locked room doors.”
On Sunday, AI said in a statement: “We are deeply dismayed by an illegal break-in at a hotel belonging to a major international chain, which also affected one of our own hotels… We constantly review travel and accommodation arrangements with reputable international hotel chains based on feedback from our employees and internal reviews to ensure the safety and comfort of employees. In this specific case, we have taken immediate action and decided to relocate our colleagues to another hotel.”
“We have reached out to the management of the current hotel to ensure the safety of colleagues staying there. We have been assured that there will be no compromise on safety until our colleagues are relocated to another hotel,” AI’s statement said.
The airline says it is “providing all possible support, including professional advice, to our colleague and the entire team. Air India is also cooperating with the local police and will pursue the matter to the fullest extent of legal possibilities. Our team in London is actively monitoring the safety aspects and is available to provide any assistance during this time. Air India attaches utmost importance to the safety and wellbeing of all employees travelling on duty.”
The young stewardess was attacked by a burglar in her London hotel room earlier this week. Fortunately, her cries for help reached colleagues in neighboring rooms, who quickly joined forces. The attacker tried to flee but was eventually caught. The dazed young woman, who suffered bruises, was taken to hospital and is now back in India where she is receiving treatment.
The incident occurred shortly after midnight at the Radisson Red Hotel at London Heathrow. Crew members from several AI flights were on site that night. “The crew member was sleeping when an intruder attacked her in her room at around 1.30am. She was startled, woke up and screamed for help. He attacked her with a coat hanger and dragged her across the floor as she tried to escape to the door,” sources said.
Her colleagues immediately came to her aid. “She was badly bruised and the intruder tried to escape. The police were called and she was taken to a hospital. She could not fly back to work and a friend from the crew stayed with her,” sources add.
Police are investigating the attack. “The intruder has been arrested. It could have been a homeless man who came to the hotel and managed to get into the room. The lack of security in the hotel is shocking. Fortunately, the crew member’s friends quickly came to her aid and rescued her just in time,” sources say.
AI’s pilots live in central London and its cabin crew stay in hotels near Heathrow. This alleged attack came just a day after an 11-year-old Australian girl was stabbed eight times while visiting Leicester Square as a tourist with her mother.
“Public order in some parts of the UK, including London, currently requires everyone there to be vigilant. We are currently avoiding going out alone in London after late evening. Only hotels with absolutely secure security systems must be selected for crew accommodation, especially if these hotels are not in the centre but on the outskirts of London,” said several pilots who have operated flights to London. Heathrow is in Zone 6 according to the subway map, with Zone 1 being central London.
It was learned that the crew did not feel safe at the property because “there was no video surveillance in many critical areas; hotel staff did not respond to emergency calls; staff were not often present at the reception; strangers frequently knocked on doors and windows from outside; lighting in the hotel was dim; staff entered the rooms without knocking.” Sources add that these issues were “discussed with the hotel several times, but they remained unresolved. As a result, they did not feel safe despite having locked room doors.”
On Sunday, AI said in a statement: “We are deeply dismayed by an illegal break-in at a hotel belonging to a major international chain, which also affected one of our own hotels… We constantly review travel and accommodation arrangements with reputable international hotel chains based on feedback from our employees and internal reviews to ensure the safety and comfort of employees. In this specific case, we have taken immediate action and decided to relocate our colleagues to another hotel.”
“We have reached out to the management of the current hotel to ensure the safety of colleagues staying there. We have been assured that there will be no compromise on safety until our colleagues are relocated to another hotel,” AI’s statement said.
The airline says it is “providing all possible support, including professional advice, to our colleague and the entire team. Air India is also cooperating with the local police and will pursue the matter to the fullest extent of legal possibilities. Our team in London is actively monitoring the safety aspects and is available to provide any assistance during this time. Air India attaches utmost importance to the safety and wellbeing of all employees travelling on duty.”
The young stewardess was attacked by a burglar in her London hotel room earlier this week. Fortunately, her cries for help reached colleagues in neighboring rooms, who quickly joined forces. The attacker tried to flee but was eventually caught. The dazed young woman, who suffered bruises, was taken to hospital and is now back in India where she is receiving treatment.
The incident occurred shortly after midnight at the Radisson Red Hotel at London Heathrow. Crew members from several AI flights were on site that night. “The crew member was sleeping when an intruder attacked her in her room at around 1.30am. She was startled, woke up and screamed for help. He attacked her with a coat hanger and dragged her across the floor as she tried to escape to the door,” sources said.
Her colleagues immediately came to her aid. “She was badly bruised and the intruder tried to escape. The police were called and she was taken to a hospital. She could not fly back to work and a friend from the crew stayed with her,” sources add.
Police are investigating the attack. “The intruder has been arrested. It could have been a homeless man who came to the hotel and managed to get into the room. The lack of security in the hotel is shocking. Fortunately, the crew member’s friends quickly came to her aid and rescued her just in time,” sources say.
AI’s pilots live in central London and its cabin crew stay in hotels near Heathrow. This alleged attack came just a day after an 11-year-old Australian girl was stabbed eight times while visiting Leicester Square as a tourist with her mother.
“Public order in some parts of the UK, including London, currently requires everyone there to be vigilant. We are currently avoiding going out alone in London after late evening. Only hotels with absolutely secure security systems must be selected for crew accommodation, especially if these hotels are not in the centre but on the outskirts of London,” said several pilots who have operated flights to London. Heathrow is in Zone 6 according to the subway map, with Zone 1 being central London.
