Manish Patel, a Boeing 777 captain, and former union representative at the British Airways has filed an employment tribunal claim over racist jokes and receiving emails which had racist language.
Following which five pilots from British Airways have been suspended over allegations of racist behaviour and distribution of sexist messages.
The "appalled" airliner has launched an investigation into the allegations, which include a captain repeatedly using the 'N' word against a fellow BA pilot with an ethnic minority background.
The allegations - which also include a pilot sending filthy images of a man having sexual intercourse with a chicken - focus on BA staff who work part-time as trade union officials for British Airline Pilots Association (BALPA).
According to Patel, he was called a "P*** lad" and a "chai wallah", the Mail on Sunday reported. He also claims jokes were made about him working in a corner shop or as a taxi driver.
Balpa said that while it concedes there have been instances of "inappropriate emails passing among a small number of Balpa representatives", the union is "committed to ensuring a good, modern-day work environment". It also dismissed Mr Patel's claims of racist language, and “will be robustly defended".
Six emails revealed how Captain Brendan O’Neal, a senior union official who is also responsible for training aspiring pilots, sent a flurry of messages featuring the 'N' word back in 2012. In one message sent in 2012, as preparations for a Christmas pub lunch were underway, Mr O'Neal asked Mr Patel: "What food do you want n****?"
While Mr Patel admitted he had himself sent offensive emails, he claims he was forced to do so in order to not be left out. Mr O'Neal has now stepped down from his position at the trade union as its executive president, Balpa said last night.
