Overview

• The captain of flight BA173 was suspended after reportedly leaving the cockpit door open on the London–New York service so family members could see him at the controls.
• The Civil Aviation Authority opened an urgent investigation into the alleged security breach on August 6 and continues to examine the circumstances.
• British Airways confirms the suspension complied with its protocols and that the pilot has returned to flying after an internal review found no security risk.
• Return service BA174 was canceled as a result of the suspension, and affected passengers were rebooked with most arriving at Heathrow within a few hours.
• Some aviation commentators have publicly questioned the logistics of how the open door could have been observed from the cabin on a Boeing 777-300ER.