Mystery surrounding death of British Airways flight attendant, 45, found dead in San Francisco hotel room
A British Airways flight attendant who was found dead in his hotel room during an American stopover is a father of three young children.
Irfan Ali Mirza, 45, landed in San Francisco from London Heathrow airport last Tuesday and had a two-day layover before the return flight.
However, he failed to report for duty on Thursday after staying at the crew hotel, sparking concern from his colleagues.
After failing to raise him on the phone, hotel managers unlocked the room, where they found Mirza, from London, dead in his bed.
The San Francisco Office of the Chief Medical Examiner confirmed his identity on Tuesday hours after his family identified him on social media.
Police said the responding officers’ investigation of the scene ‘did not discover any evidence of foul play’ and the body was taken by the medical examiner.
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner refused to provide any more information, including cause of death or if it still had possession of Mirza’s body.
British Airways flight attendant Irfan Ali Mirza, 45, (back row, second from left) was found dead in his hotel room during an American stopover. Pictured on a trip last August
Mirza (pictured with his extended family) was a father of three young children
After failing to raise him on the phone, hotel managers unlocked the room, where they found Mirza, from London, dead in his bed (stock photo of a room from the hotel)
Mirza was mourned online by his family and dozens of shocked colleagues who worked with him during his more than 20-year career in the skies.
His brother Kamran Mirza thanked his brother’s colleagues for their outpouring of support, and asked they keep his family in their prayers.
‘Cannot express how hard it is that Irfan left his parents, us three siblings and his wife and three young children behind. It’s totally heartbreaking,’ he wrote.
The youngest of Mirza’s children was a baby born only last year.
Kamran said he looked up to him as the brothers lived together after the rest of their immediate family moved, and often picked him up from Heathrow.
‘It has really shocked me and the rest of the family that Irfan is not with us anymore. Cannot express what we are going through right now,’ he wrote.
‘We both were born in the same month, June, only 4 days apart. There were times we celebrated our birthday at the same time. Now that moment will never come again. It’s heartbreaking.’
Mirza’s youngest brother, Rizzy Mirza, also thanked his British Airways colleagues for their kind words and stories.
‘I cannot begin to express the sudden loss of my beautiful brother. It really has cut the family deep,’ he wrote.
‘Looking at all your lovely messages brings me some peace knowing that my brother was well loved and respected amongst you all.’
Mirza (back of the group) was mourned online by dozens of shocked colleagues who worked with him during his career in the skies
His brother Kamran Mirza (right, with Mirza) said he looked up to him as the brothers lived together after the rest of their immediate family moved
His younger sister Angel said they had a close bond and she treasured amazing childhood memories they made together.
‘He guided me throughout my whole life and his loss now has deeply affected us all. I know he loved his job and always has great stories to tell when he got back,’ she wrote.
‘Seeing all these lovely messages remembering him brings a smile to know he was loved and respected. His memory lives on forever in our hearts.’
The BA 284 flight from San Francisco International Airport to London Heathrow due to depart at 4.20pm on April 17 was cancelled.
Passengers were not told why the flight was cancelled, and were given hotel rooms while alternative arrangements were made.
Crewmates were reportedly too upset to fly after the grim discovery was made.
Heartbroken fellow cabin crew offered their own tributes to a beloved colleague, and shared memories of their time together.
‘Irfan was an amazing, kind soul. I first flew with Irfan on a Hong Kong flight… it was an unforgettable trip,’ Bailey Patter wrote.
‘We would always giggle about it over the years to come. My heart goes out to friends and family of Irfan, he was a true gentleman and will be greatly missed.’
Mirza was called ‘the life of the party’ by his colleagues, whom he kept entertained on layovers
Mirza (top right) with colleagues during their downtime between flights
Danielle Crane added: ‘Irfan was one of the most genuine, funniest and kindest crew members I’ve had the pleasure to have flown with.
‘I was also on the extended Nassau trip with him last year and he really did make it fun and had us all laughing. The world is a sadder place without him in it.’
Sarah Atkinson wrote: ‘He had great sense of humour and fun, but above all he was a darling man with the kindest heart. He was a treasure to know.
‘I am so incredibly sorry for your loss. He loved his family so deeply and I hope in time, you may be able to take some comfort in knowing how much we, his flying family, loved him also.’
Dutchie Wallis added: ‘Irfan was a sheer joy to fly with. He had pure sunshine in his soul and lit up a room with his expansive smile. He had the loveliest sense of humour that would make us giggle out loud.’
Karen Nelson, who was one of the last air crew to fly with him, recalled a recent trip to Italy they took together.
‘I recently spent my Bologna standover with Irfan. We had a fabulous day along with Michael our IFL,’ she wrote.
‘We visited the sights and enjoyed a fab late lunch together chatting about all sorts. Such a lovely gentle guy. I will treasure that wonderful day.’
Mirza with one of his young children whom he would never make it home to
Others called Mirza ‘life and soul of the party’, an ‘incredibly kind, funny and clever man’ who ‘always spoke so highly of his family’.
‘He was such a professional, cared so much about his job.’
It was unclear how long Mirza lay undiscovered – he may have been there for as long as two days.
Pilots who had gone on ahead to the airport to prepare for the flight also returned to the hotel to comfort colleagues.
British Airways on Sunday confirmed that the man was a member of its crew.
In a statement to the Sun, it said: ‘Our thoughts and condolences are with the family and friends of our colleague at this difficult time.’
Sources told the newspaper: ‘There was no way the flight back from San Francisco could go ahead. Staff were in absolute bits at the sudden loss of their friend.
‘The steward was a popular member of the team and this came as a bolt from the blue.’
British Airways has confirmed a member of crew has died in American during a stopover between flights
The flight was cancelled, as was a return leg from Heathrow, according to data from aviation analytics firm Cirium
The flight, BA 284, involved an Airbus A380-800, which the airline says can carry up to 469 passengers across four classes.
The return journey, BA 285, from London to SFO, was also cancelled the next day after being due to depart London at 10.45am, according to data from aviation analytics firm Cirium.
BA, Marriott and local authorities in San Francisco were contacted for further comment.
Last year, a British Airways pilot aged 47 died during a stopover between flights on the Caribbean island of St Lucia.
The Senior First Officer had collapsed at a luxury hotel in front of shocked guests, according to contemporary reports.
His death meant that BA had to cancel a flight from Vieux Fort to London Gatwick.
