British Airways apologises to judge over luggage complaint

British Airways says it has apologised to a High Court judge who told how his luggage had gone astray when he was overseeing a case involving the airline.

Mr Justice Peter Smith spelled out the problems he encountered after flying to Florence with his wife in early July in a written ruling on the case, which involves allegations of air cargo charges being fixed but has yet to reach its final stages.

The judge said in the ruling, published in late July, that he had decided to pass the case to another judge.

But he said his ''investigation'' into what happened to his luggage would carry on ''in a private capacity''.

He said he would pursue that investigation ''with the vigour for which I am known''.

A British Airways spokeswoman said: "We have apologised for the delayed baggage and offered a full explanation."

Watchdog the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office says it is looking into Mr Justice Smith's conduct in connection with the case.