Jacqueline Sutton was found dead at Ataturk Airport (Picture: SWNS)

Former BBC journalist Jacqueline Sutton hanged herself in a spur of the moment decision after missing her flight, an inquest heard.

The veteran war reporter was found at Ataturk Airport in Istanbul, Turkey, after missing her connecting flight from Heathrow to Iraq.

Angela Eagle is facing a vote of no confidence from her own constituencyNorth London Coroner’s Court heard that she was working as the Iraq director of London-based charity the Institute for War and Peace Reporting (IWPR).

Coroner Andrew Walker said that she had drunk two cans of beer in the departure lounge then went to the bathroom while other passengers boarded.




After realising she had missed the flight, he said ‘She told the staff she had no money to pay for another and began crying. They told her that nothing could be done.’

The inquest heard Miss sutton was then seen returning to the bathroom, but did not come out.

This is what happened to the pound after ‘finance expert’ Andrea Leadsom pulled outHer body was found by two Russian women who alerted the authorities.

Mr Walker recorded a verdict of suicide adding that it was an impulsive act.

Sister Jenny Sutton said after the inquest that Jacqueline would have been pleased to see the ‘ghastly folly’ of the Iraq war laid bare by the Chilcot report last week.

She said: ‘The one thing I would like to say is that I know that what she was doing before her death, in Iraqi-Kurdistan, was that she was working with a Kurdish journalist, gathering stories from Iraqi people and Kurdish Christians, Sunni, Shia, Muslims, Jews.

‘She was gathering stories for how those communities had lived together for generations in peaceful coexistence before the interference of the West and before the war opened up such horrible sectarian divisions.

‘I think a contributory factor to the blackness that overcame my sister was seeing the suffering of the people of the Middle East.’

She added: ‘It’s been very difficult, but I think anybody with empathy living in war zones feels the pain.

‘Jacqueline would be the first to say that her first thoughts were for the Kurdish, Iraqi people in the region for many years.

‘She was extraordinarily brave, fearless, and loving.’

For emotional support contact Samartians on 116123 or visit samaritans.org.