VIRGIN ATLANTIC EMPLOYEE – LEAKS FLIGHT INFORMATION OF CELEBRITIES TO PAPARAZZI!

A Virgin Atlantic employee has resigned from the airline “amid claims she leaked confidential flight details of celebrities to one of the world’s biggest paparazzi agencies,” The Telegraph of London reports.

The woman is alleged to have “routinely” given flight details on numerous celebrities to the Big Pictures agency, which presumably wanted to send paparazzi photographers to try to capture photos of the stars as they passed through airports, The Associated Press writes.

AP:  Airline employee resigns after celeb tip-off claim

The Guardian of London says Scarlett Johansson, Gwyneth Paltrow and Sienna Miller are among those that had their itineraries passed along to Big Pictures.

AP says the list is even bigger, reporting that others alleged targets include: Britain’s Princess Beatrice; singers Madonna and Rihanna; actors Charlize Theron, Kate Winslet, Daniel Radcliffe and Miller; comedians Sacha Baron Cohen and Russell Brand; and a slew of U.K. celebrities and sports figures.

The Guardian says it has obtained e-mails showing that a Virgin Atlantic supervisor of “Upper Class” customers gave the details to Big Pictures.

The Guardian says one e-mail to Big Pictures allegedly reads “Got a few more for you!” before listing flight information for several high-profile passengers, including Paltrow, Miller and singer Robbie Williams.

Britain’s Press Gazette quotes another e-mail between Big Pictures and the informant that appears to indicate the agency was providing compensation for the flight information.

The carrier owned by Sir Richard Branson says it has launched an investigation.

“The allegations that have been raised are extremely serious and we have launched an immediate investigation,” Virgin Atlantic says in a statement quoted by the Britain’s Press Gazette. “The security of customer information is our highest priority and we have robust processes in place to ensure that passenger information is protected. The incident that has been alleged concerns eight customers’ flights booked in 2010 and we are in contact with all of those people. It is too early to draw conclusions on this matter but of course we would deeply regret any concern that these allegations may cause the individuals involved.”