A Tooting man is demanding answers from an airline after his learning-disabled brother went missing after getting off a plane at Heathrow Airport.

Huseyin Mustafa, a caterer based in Blackshaw Road, claims he waited for more than four hours while airport staff tried to locate his 39-year-old brother Ojuz, who had returned on a Cyprus Turkish Airlines flight on the evening of May 17.

His brother who has learning difficulties had been on holiday to Cyprus accompanied by a friend, but was flying back alone after, it is claimed, arrangements were made at the check-in desk for Ojuz to be assisted in reaching the arrivals gate at Heathrow.

Mr Mustafa said he was waiting by the gate and started to worry when his brother didn't show.

"About an hour after the plane had landed I started to panic," he said.

"I went to the information desk and gave them his description.

"They checked the baggage hall and found his suitcase on the conveyor belt, but my brother was not there."

Staff searched the airport but could not locate Ojuz, so the airport police were called at just after 10pm and eventually found him standing outside one of the terminals.

"He was just standing at a bus stop looking dazed with tears in his eyes," said Mr Mustafa.

"I'm thoroughly shocked and disappointed.

"The anxiety they the airline caused me that night.

"I was there nearly four-and-a-half hours on my own.

"It was just a nightmare. You don't know what went through my brother's mind.

"He has the mental age of a four-year-old."

A spokesman for Cyprus Turkish Airlines said the company was unable to make an official comment because it was currently investigating the incident.

She said: "We've got to investigate in Cyprus who they informed out there.

"Then we need to investigate with our airport staff what happened when he got here Heathrow."

May 30, 2003 10:00