Kim Kardashian has sparked a new row over Heathrow baggage handlers after she accused British Airways workers of stealing “irreplaceable” items from her luggage after a recent flight.
Kim Kardashian, 31, says staff at the airport, which is already facing claims it will struggle to cope with the surge in passengers during the Olympics, took several handbags and “priceless” sunglasses she inherited from her late father, Robert Kardashian.
The allegations spark new fears that security at Heathrow may be returning to the lax levels last seen in the 1980s when it was nicknamed Thiefrow due to its reputation for high rates of luggage theft.
Supermodel Naomi Campbell also accused BA staff of stealing her possessions during the 2008 baggage debacle and claimed she was a “martyr” after being arrested following a row at Terminal 5.
Kim Kardashian, whose father Robert was the lawyer who sensationally helped clear OJ Simpson of murder, is said to have arrived back in Los Angeles from France on Friday night to find that her luggage was significantly lighter than it had been on the way out.
On further inspection, Kim Kardashian is reported to have discovered that the sunglasses, which Robert Kardashian gave her before he died in 2003, were missing from her case.
U.S. website TMZ.com also claim that “several extremely expensive purses and Tumi luggage” were missing.
Kim Kardashian had earlier written on her Twitter page: “Very disappointed in British Airways for opening my luggage & taking some special items of mine! Some things are sentimental ¬ replaceable.
“What happened to the days when you could lock your bags! We need to get back to that. There’s no sense of security & no trust! Shame on you(sic)”
Kim Kardashian, who is back in Los Angeles after a whistle-stop promotional tour of London, and then a week at the Cannes International Film Festival, is now said to have approached BA to look into the apparent theft by analyzing CCTV footage.
It is understood that the reality star may take the matter to the police if the airline do not provide a satisfactory response.
British Airways, which celebrated its 90th anniversary in 2009, is expecting to have one of its busiest summer ever as the main airliner carrying visitors to the Olympics.
Heathrow, which will handle 80% of Games traffic, is expected to handle 50,000 extra bags a day as it deals with an extra 600,000 passengers during the course of the sporting spectacle.
Last week staff successfully carried out a dry run in practice for the Olympics when the processed 3,000 extra bags an hour.
But memories of the 2008 Terminal 5 baggage debacle – when thousands of passengers at BA’s exclusive hub – were left waiting days to be reunited with their luggage have triggered fears of fresh chaos this summer.
British Airways said that they “have received a complaint and are investigating”.
