These are the pictures said to show a BA pilot performing a sex act in the cockpit of a passenger plane.

Colin Glover has been suspended by the airline after pictures emerged of a man performing a sex act while wearing women's stockings at the controls of a plane.

Mr Glover denies the photos - which also include a pornographic magazine laying on an aircraft's controls - are of him.

Pictures emerged of a man's legs, wearing only a pair of women's stockings at the controls

Another of the photos shows a pornographic magazine resting on the plane's controls

It is thought the pictures were taken on two separate occasions, on different long-haul flights, and are believed to have been taken at night.

Mr Glover, 51, who was born in Windsor, Berkshire, and lives in Dublin, denies he is the man in the photographs, but he has been suspended from his job while BA investigates.

The father of one has worked for the airline for 26 years and describes himself on social media as a captain. His LinkedIn profile says he has long-haul and short-haul experience.

Twice-married Mr Glover, who graduated with a degree in civil engineering from Edinburgh's Heriot-Watt University in 1987, is likely to be permanently banned from flying if he is found to be the man in the photographs.

Colin Glover is accused of having taken the photos of himself performing a sex act while at the controls of an aircraft

At least one of the photographs appears to have been taken in a 777 – the world's largest twin-jet aircraft, which has a seating capacity of up to 396 passengers.

Mr Glover's LinkedIn profile says he has flown B737s 747s, B757s, B767s, and B777 aircraft.

Responding to the photos, airline expert Chris Yates told The Sun on Sunday: 'This is very dangerous if the plane is in mid-flight. If you are flying, you can fly into serious turbulence.'

He said it was unlikely the pictures were taken on a simulator because 'you can tell by the lighting that it is a plane'.

A BA spokesman told MailOnline: 'We are taking this matter very seriously and are investigating.'

Investigators at BA will examine whether the images could have been shot in a flight simulator.

However it is understood there are no toilets like the one seen in one of the lewd photographs in the airline's simulators.

BA has confirmed it is probing the images and whether they were taken feet from passengers while mid-flight, but said they could not comment further while an investigation is underway.

The photos are the latest in a number of serious incidents involving BA employees in recent years.

It is thought the pictures were taken in a BA Boeing 777, like that pictured in this file photo

Earlier this year, pilots Sean Murphy, 39, and Paul Lytollis, 43, were placed under investigation after allegedly getting into a bar-room brawl in Houston, Texas.

And last year, BA employee Matthew Underwood was suspended amid allegations he was taking backhanders from celebrities and rich businessmen.

In 2013, a drunken BA cabin crew ran amok on a flight while off-duty, sparking angry complaints from passengers.

Stewards and stewardesses were seen downing bottles of champagne and red wine in front of stunned onlookers in First and Club Premium cabins on a flight from London to Washington.

Passengers said the BA staff began screaming and shouting 'like spoiled brats'. Some reported them kissing and 'heavy petting'.