Wait, Are British Airways Baggage Handlers Peeing in Cargo Holds?

Image: PHOTO: British Airways' Boeing 747 in San Diego. (Photo by Jason Leppert)
Image: PHOTO: British Airways' Boeing 747 in San Diego. (Photo by Jason Leppert)
Donald Wood
by Donald Wood
Last updated: 11:00 AM ET, Thu February 23, 2017

Baggage handlers working for British Airways have reportedly been warned to stop urinating in the cargo holds of planes, as it may be corroding the fuselage.

This makes us ask: Are you sure that's not the only reason?

According to The Sun, British Airways discovered that some of its employees were urinating inside the cargo holds of Boeing 747 aircraft instead of making the long journey back to the airport to use the bathroom.

Engineers inspecting several planes reportedly discovered metalwork inside the cargo holds which had started rotting from the corrosive nature of urine. The engineers went on to say that no evidence suggested the problem caused danger for any of the planes.

"Basically the guys were taking a leak in the hold when they were caught short. You can understand it," a British Airways source told The Sun. "They are tucked away in the holds of these massive planes and they need to go. It can be a real trek back to the toilet facilities at the staff centre and when you have to go you have to go."

"Eventually it emerged urine is quite corrosive and there was some issues with some of the Boeing 747s," the source continued. "No plane was in any danger, but staff were told to stop and use the proper facilities."

When The Sun reached out to British Airways officials for a statement, a spokesperson said, "We have no record of this."


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