A British Airways flight attendant has been awarded nearly £30,000 after an employment tribunal ruled that his dismissal was unfair. Charly Mateo, a steward based at Heathrow Airport, was dismissed following allegations that he asked a colleague if she wanted to join the "mile high club," touched her leg, and shared explicit stories involving two women.

The tribunal hearing took place in Reading, Berkshire, where the judge acknowledged that Mateo's behavior had been unusual and that he had breached the colleague’s privacy while she was on a break. Despite these findings, the judge determined that British Airways failed to carry out a sufficiently thorough investigation before terminating Mateo’s employment.

The colleague involved stated she did not wish to work with Mateo again due to his conduct. However, the tribunal’s decision centered on procedural concerns, emphasizing the airline’s inadequate handling of the case rather than exonerating Mateo’s actions.

Mateo, 39, received compensation for unfair dismissal, reflecting the tribunal’s view that British Airways did not observe proper investigatory standards prior to his firing. The ruling highlights the importance of employers conducting comprehensive and fair investigations when addressing workplace allegations.