British Airways publicly apologized for a company publication that featured a photo of a boarding pass with Osama bin Laden’s name on it. The company’s attempt at humor backfired, turning the incident into a public relations headache, the last thing the airline needs as it struggles to deal with the current cabin crew strike.
The U.K. publication The Daily Mail reported that the airline company used a photo of a boarding pass with bin Laden’s name and a frequent flyer number on it on the cover of a company publication. The company magazine is distributed to staff at London’s Heathrow airport, reported AFP.
A British Airways spokesperson apologized for the error to the Daily Mail. BA also sent out an online apology via Twitter, responding to users around the world who have been spreading news of the gaff. Online reactions from people around the world indicate that many of them were hurt by the company’s lack of compassion for the people killed in the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks in the United States.
“A mistake was made and we are working to find out how this occurred. Apologies for the error,” read a recent company Tweet.
Not only did the company feature Bin Laden on the boarding pass, but it also appeared to show him in a first class seat. The company magazine is reported to have used the image in an effort to promote a new iPhone application. The iPhone application would allow passengers to register their boarding passes through their iPhones, reported Thaindian News.
Osama bin Laden is currently wanted by the FBI for the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks against the World Trade Center in New York. He was also linked to a U.S. Embassy bombing in 1998.
The U.K. publication The Daily Mail reported that the airline company used a photo of a boarding pass with bin Laden’s name and a frequent flyer number on it on the cover of a company publication. The company magazine is distributed to staff at London’s Heathrow airport, reported AFP.
A British Airways spokesperson apologized for the error to the Daily Mail. BA also sent out an online apology via Twitter, responding to users around the world who have been spreading news of the gaff. Online reactions from people around the world indicate that many of them were hurt by the company’s lack of compassion for the people killed in the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks in the United States.
“A mistake was made and we are working to find out how this occurred. Apologies for the error,” read a recent company Tweet.
Not only did the company feature Bin Laden on the boarding pass, but it also appeared to show him in a first class seat. The company magazine is reported to have used the image in an effort to promote a new iPhone application. The iPhone application would allow passengers to register their boarding passes through their iPhones, reported Thaindian News.
Osama bin Laden is currently wanted by the FBI for the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks against the World Trade Center in New York. He was also linked to a U.S. Embassy bombing in 1998.
