British Airways Male Crew Exposes Breastfeeding Mother Mid-Flight

LONDON- A British Airways (BA) flight from London Heathrow (LHR) left a solo-traveling mother feeling “violated” when a male flight attendant allegedly lifted her nursing cover while she was breastfeeding her infant.

The passenger, who was traveling with her 7-month-old child, described the incident in a viral Reddit post, accusing the British Airways (BA) crew member of fully exposing her chest mid-flight to ask if she wanted a meal.

Representative Photo: British Airways

British Airways Exposes Mother

The incident reportedly occurred on a long-haul British Airways (BA) flight departing from London Heathrow Airport (LHR).

The mother was seated and nursing her baby under a nursing cover when the male flight attendant approached her during meal service. After she signaled she was occupied by extending her hand from beneath the cover, the crew member allegedly lifted the fabric, fully exposing her chest.

The reason given for the exposure was to ask if she wanted her meal, despite her earlier indication that she was willing to skip it if necessary.

According to the woman, the flight attendant had already been informed before takeoff that she might be nursing during meal service.

The mother described the experience as “horrible,” emphasizing the discomfort and humiliation she felt. She reported that she was “lying down nursing with her head under the cover” when the attendant touched her leg, then lifted the cover, revealing her body and child to the cabin.

British Airways has acknowledged the incident and told PYOK, “We are in contact with our customer and are looking into these allegations.” However, the mother claimed that she initially received only a generic response from the airline’s customer service.

The public’s online reaction was swift and supportive. Many users condemned the attendant’s alleged behavior, calling it a violation of privacy and equating it to harassment. Some called for stricter training and sensitivity programs for crew members dealing with nursing passengers.

One user wrote, “This is so wrong. It’s assault and sexual harassment in my eyes.” Another added, “A mom breastfeeding on a flight is already in a vulnerable position. What happened was unacceptable.”

Photo: Aero Icarus | Flickr

Breastfeeding Incidents Across Airlines

This is not the first breastfeeding-related controversy to impact the aviation industry:

• American Airlines (AA) – In 2021, a mother was allegedly called “disgusting” by a flight attendant for breastfeeding her baby on a flight from Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) to Atlanta (ATL). A paper towel was reportedly thrown at the child, prompting an internal investigation by American Airlines (AA).
• KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (KL) – On a flight from San Francisco (SFO) to Amsterdam (AMS), a mother was told to cover up while breastfeeding to avoid discomforting other passengers. The policy was reversed after backlash.
• TUI Airways – In 2023, a mother was reportedly told by crew members to stop breastfeeding during takeoff. Although an initial statement discouraged in-flight breastfeeding, the airline later clarified that mothers are indeed allowed to nurse while onboard.

These repeated incidents across multiple airlines point to an industry-wide need for clear and respectful breastfeeding policies, as well as consistent crew training.

Growing Need for Crew Sensitivity Training

As more families travel with infants, airlines face increasing pressure to train their crews to handle breastfeeding scenarios respectfully.

Nursing in-flight is legal and supported by international aviation guidelines. Crew members are expected to prioritize passenger dignity, especially in sensitive situations like infant feeding.

The latest incident involving British Airways (BA) highlights the importance of effective communication, passenger awareness, and policy enforcement in preventing further violations of personal boundaries.

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