In a recent incident, a United Airlines flight attendant was found to have consumed an excessive amount of vodka, registering ten times above the legal alcohol limit for flying. The incident occurred on a transatlantic flight from San Francisco to Heathrow, where Margit Lake, aged 56, had managed to sneak multiple miniature vodka bottles onto the plane. Following the ten-hour flight, she required medical attention upon landing in London due to her high alcohol consumption.
Reports from Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court revealed that Lake, a veteran flight attendant with 26 years of service, resigned from her position after the incident. Medical examinations confirmed that she had 216 milligrams of alcohol per 100 milliliters in her blood, significantly surpassing the legal limit of 20 milligrams for flight attendants in the UK.
During the court proceedings, Lake admitted to performing aviation duties while intoxicated. Her defense attorney, Ben Lansbury, disclosed that she had been experiencing feelings of isolation and grief, leading her to seek solace in alcohol. Lansbury stated that Lake deeply regretted her actions and had been actively attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings to address her behavior.
Despite the severity of the offense, Magistrate Tony Delliston opted for a financial penalty as punishment, sparing Lake from imprisonment. She was fined a total of £1,461, including a victim surcharge of £584 and court costs amounting to £85. The court also acknowledged the support Lake had been receiving from her colleagues in the UK throughout the legal proceedings.