http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2006260513,00.html

But the Sun is known to exaggerate. Same report was on BBC TV.

Planes safety scandal
 
 
 
BA (voted the world's best airline for 2006)  ...  is facing major maintenance probe 
 
 
 
By DAVID GOODWIN

A BRITISH Airways maintenance boss got an unqualified electrician pal to clear vital work on grounded jets — while he went off on holiday, it was claimed last night.

Engineering manager Neil Ritchie handed his authorisation stamp to his mate then headed off to walk the West Highland Way. But the maintenance controller in Glasgow was rumbled when his stamp was spotted on paperwork for a date when he was off on the hiking trip. Now BA is at the centre of a major maintenance probe amid claims that unsafe passenger jets may have been cleared for take-off, paperwork for repairs was being falsified for up to five years and that this dangerous practice is rife among other staff.

An insider warned: "This was a shocking abuse of the system which leaves it wide open to possible disaster.

"It is possible that planes are not airworthy. It certainly puts people’s lives and safety at risk."

Vital work on nine planes at the airline’s Glasgow hangar was passed by the electrician while Ritchie was on holiday. Shamed Ritchie, of Dundonald, Ayrshire, was forced to resign over the scandal. But he is now plying his trade with Loganair — which operates a BA franchise — just three weeks after being caught. The Civil Aviation Authority yesterday confirmed that a top-level probe was under way at BA Maintenance Glasgow — BAM-G.

Ritchie had responsibility under a CAA licence for clearing work carried out by specialist technicians. But he gave his authorisation stamp to the electrician pal and told HIM to pass an array of technical work — which he wasn’t qualified to do.

Our insider claimed that the practice is common among other licensed technicians within BA and has been going on for years.

The source added: "When Neil Ritchie was questioned about why someone else was using his stamp whilst he was on holiday, he said it was a working practice within the company and lots of licensed guys do the same."

Ritchie and his pal were rumbled on May 12 but our source claimed paperwork was being falsified for a long period beforehand. The insider said: "Whenever the facts came out it was commonly suggested that this practice had been going on for five years or more."

CAA investigators are focusing on repair documents for nine passenger planes used by BA for domestic and international flights. But part of the probe will also look at how long the scam had been going on for.

Engineers at Glasgow maintain Airbus A319 and A320 and Boeing 737 aircraft flown throughout the UK and Europe. It is understood that the electrician who stamped the work for Ritchie has since been demoted by BA.

Ritchie is now working on planes for Loganair which operates BA services under a franchise deal to Scots destinations including Islay, Orkney, Stornoway and Tiree. BA last night denied that unsafe planes were flying as a result of Ritchie’s antics.

A spokesman insisted: "There are a second line of checks, pre-departure checks and final function checks. All the work in question was re-validated by qualified licensed engineers.

"There were no safety implications. In each case the work was found to have been carried out to the highest possible standard." Asked about the five-year claims, the spokesman replied:

"The CAA have carried out a full audit and we are awaiting their findings."

A further BA statement added: "An engineering manager at British Airways Maintenance Glasgow has resigned and disciplinary proceedings have been concluded in respect of another member of engineering staff, resulting in appropriate measures being taken against him.

"As soon as we became aware of the allegations we informed the CAA. "CAA officials visited the hangar. We co-operated fully with their investigations and await the findings of their audit on the facility."

"Safety and security are of paramount importance to British Airways.

"Our engineers are trained to the highest possible standards and are expected to perform their duties in an exemplary manner, recognising the responsibilities inherent in the work carried out at the hangar.

"Any breach of the policies and processes laid down to ensure the integrity of the work carried out at the hangar will not be tolerated and will be dealt with in the appropriate way."

A CAA spokesman said: "We are aware of the situation and are investigating an allegation of discrepancies with paperwork."

..........

In a statement, Ritchie’s new employer Loganair said: "Loganair was made aware of certain allegations being made against the individual.

"There was direct contact with BA and the CAA prior to employing the individual concerned.

"The role being undertaken by the individual with Loganairdoes not have the same level of responsibility as was held within BA."

Ritchie last night said at his detached villa in Dundonald: "I knew this was coming but I have no comment to make."