SOUTH African Airways has banned from all its flights a South African diplomat accused of fondling an air hostess and disrupting a flight to Britain. SAA has also laid criminal charges against Jerome Barnes, a senior diplomat working in London, following allegations that he touched the hostess’ breasts, insulted the crew and behaved badly on the May 6 flight. “The said passenger will not be allowed to travel on any of South African Airways services anywhere in the world,” SAA said in a statement. The airline has also lodged a formal complaint against Barnes, a first secretary at the High Commission in London, and will assist its employees if they wished to lay individual charges, spokesman Victor Nosi said. The foreign ministry is investigating the incident.