A flight attendant for British Airways on a layover after a flight from London to San Francisco was found dead in his hotel room last Thursday after failing to appear with fellow crew members for the return flight.

As the UK newspaper The Sun reports, the flight attendant was found deceased in his San Francisco hotel room Thursday after colleagues raised alarms and were let into his room by hotel staff. The return flight to London's Heathrow Airport, BA284, was subsequently canceled without explanation to passengers, because the crew was too distraught to work the flight.

The flight was scheduled to leave Thursday, April 17, at 4:20 pm from SFO.

According to a source who spoke to The Sun, "The steward was a popular member of the team and this came as a bolt from the blue."

It appeared that the flight attendant had potentially been dead in his hotel bed since Tuesday, April 15, when the crew first landed in San Francisco.

According to the UK Telegraph, the crew was staying at the Marriot Marquis Hotel on Fourth Street.

The name and age of the flight attendant was not released, and the cause of death is still under investigation. Foul play was not suspected.

British Airways issued a statement saying, "Our thoughts and condolences are with the family and friends of our colleague at this difficult time."

Photo: Nick Fewings