Scramble for PPE during first wave left supplies open to thieves Suppliers were told to use BA or Virgin flights because of the potential for piracy of goods 19 December 2020 • 8:39am PPE heading for Britain was at risk of being stolen as it travelled through Asia at the height of the pandemic, ministers were warned. Suppliers have told this newspaper they warned government officials vital equipment could be siphoned off and sold to other countries and firms if it came on indirect flights via the Middle East, Thailand and Vietnam. Officials subsequently advised suppliers to only use British Airways or Virgin Atlantic flights out of China due to piracy fears, as they flew directly to Britain instead.