Former British Airways (BA) and Qatar Airways executive Ian Heywood, who was arrested by Qatari authorities earlier this year, has been blocked from leaving Qatar and taking up his new position with BMI.

Qatar Airways global sales and distribution VP Heywood is due to return to the UK to become BMI commercial director, replacing Adrian Parkes who left the UK Star Alliance carrier in 2007. But a UK foreign office spokesman says Heywood is under a travel ban and must therefore remain in Qatar.

The spokesman says: “We can confirm that a British national of the name, Ian Heywood, was detained at Doha Airport on 1 May. He was [held in custody until he was] bailed on Wednesday 28 May. We are in regular contact with his next of kin and are providing consular assistance.

“He hasn’t been charged yet, but I can’t go into details. Currently he

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