British Airways has suspended five of its pilots after The Mail on Sunday unearthed evidence of offensive behaviour including emails containing racist language and pornographic images.

The airline launched an immediate investigation after being informed that:

A senior BA captain repeatedly used the ‘N word’ in email messages to an ethnic-minority colleague;

Another pilot sent an image of a man having sexual intercourse with a chicken;

Images of blacked-up performers from the BBC’s controversial Black And White Minstrel Show were shared between pilots.

The allegations centre on BA pilots who combine their flying duties with work as part-time trade union officials. Thirty BA pilots work up to 45 hours a month as representatives for the British Airline Pilots Association (Balpa).

However, this newspaper has seen six messages sent by Captain Brendan O’Neal (above), a senior union official, to Captain Patel in which the ‘N-word’ is used. In one, sent in November 2012 as union reps organised a Christmas pub lunch, Captain O’Neal asked: ‘What food you want n****?’

One pilot said: ‘Being a union rep is a very alpha-male, testosterone-driven, locker-room-type role.’

The claims of racism are being made by Manish Patel, 46, a Boeing 777 captain who quit as a Balpa rep last year. He has filed an employment tribunal claim against the union in which he claims he was sent emails featuring racist language by colleagues.

He also alleges that he endured racist comments, including being called ‘P*** lad’ and ‘chai wallah’, as well as inappropriate jokes that he also worked as a taxi driver or ran a corner shop.

It is understood that he admits sending offensive emails himself, but says he did so only to fit in. Last night Balpa said his claim is ‘strenuously denied and will be robustly defended’.

The claims of racism are being made by Manish Patel, 46, a Boeing 777 captain who quit as a Balpa rep last year. He has filed an employment tribunal claim against the union in which he claims he was sent emails featuring racist language by colleagues

However, this newspaper has seen six messages sent by Captain Brendan O’Neal, a senior union official, to Captain Patel in which the ‘N-word’ is used.

In one, sent in November 2012 as union reps organised a Christmas pub lunch, Captain O’Neal asked: ‘What food you want n****?’

In another, from September 2012, he asked Captain Patel: ‘U on skype n****?’ In July 2012, Captain O’Neal, who trains other BA pilots, asks: ‘Why you selling the car n****?’

Balpa last night said that Captain O’Neal had stepped down from his position as the union’s executive president ‘with immediate effect’.

Captain O’Neal said the allegations were ‘the subject of ongoing legal proceedings’, adding: ‘Whilst I would like to defend myself, in these circumstances it would be inappropriate to do so at this stage.’

Further emails reveal how Russell Williams, a BA training captain, sent a pornographic image of a man having sex with a chicken to five other union reps in March 2015 along with the caption: ‘It’s Friday. S*** some birds this weekend.’

It is understood that Captains O’Neal and Williams are among the five pilots suspended by BA. The pilot who originally emailed the images was suspended from holding a union position for two years but allowed to return within five months [File photo]

Captain Williams, who states on his LinkedIn page that he is also a magistrate, is now chairman of the British Airways Company Council (BACC), which negotiates with BA on behalf of Balpa.

Last night he said: ‘I accept these emails, while sent some time ago, were ill-judged and unprofessional.’

It is understood that Captains O’Neal and Williams are among the five pilots suspended by BA.

In June last year, two pictures of blacked-up actors from The Black And White Minstrel show – broadcast in the 1970s – were emailed among union officials. An accompanying caption read: ‘Ahh. The Black And White Minstrel Show. Wouldn’t be able to get away with that these days…’

The pilot who originally emailed the images was suspended from holding a union position for two years but allowed to return within five months.

Balpa said it accepts that ‘there have been past cases of inappropriate emails passing among a small number of Balpa representatives’, but insisted it was ‘committed to ensuring a good, modern-day work environment’.

A BA spokesman said: ‘We are appalled to learn of this behaviour which does not reflect the values of our company.’