Alleged rape of stewardess probed

Police are investigating the alleged rape of a flight stewardess by a pilot when the crew of the airline they work for were staying at a five-star hotel in Hong Kong.

The stewardess and the pilot, who are both British, were among a group of around 20 flight crew staying at the hotel in Kowloon when the incident took place in February last year after a flight from London.

The stewardess, who claimed the pilot raped her in his room in the hotel during a stopover, did not initially report the alleged rape to police in Hong Kong but complained to police in Britain after flying back the following day. British police referred the case to Hong Kong police, telling the stewardess they did not have jurisdiction over the matter. The stewardess gave a detailed statement to police in September when she next flew to the city.

The incident came to light after the stewardess began legal action for sex discrimination against her employers - one of the world's top airlines - for their handling of the incident.

In evidence to an employment tribunal she says the pilot was treated more favourably than she was. Because of the legal action in London, neither the airline nor the hotel can be identified.

The pilot was initially suspended by the airline when the stewardess reported the incident but was later allowed back to work. He has since been placed under suspension again.

At a pre-hearing review last week, the stewardess - identified only as Miss D - told a judge she had been told she should change her duty if she found herself on the same flight as the pilot.