A former United Airlines flight attendant has been sacked after consuming more than 10 times the legal alcohol limit while working on a flight from San Francisco to Heathrow. Margit Lake, 56, was treated by paramedics at Heathrow on 17 October after the Boeing 777 landed.
Appearing at Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court, the court heard that Lake’s blood alcohol level was 216mg, more than 10 times the legal limit of 20mg for aviation workers. The prosecutor said her drinking posed an “obvious risk to herself and other passengers”.
Lake, who had a 26-year career with United, admitted to performing an aviation function while under the influence. Her solicitor, Ben Lansbury, said she had been feeling “isolated” and “dealing with grief”, adding that she “deeply regrets what happened”.
The court heard that paramedics smelled alcohol on her breath and found she had low blood pressure. Despite this, there was no disruption to the flight. Lake was fined £1,461, plus a £584 victim surcharge and £85 in court costs, avoiding a possible prison sentence.
The incident follows a similar case in September, when Scandinavian Airlines steward Jessica Kostakopoulou was fined for trying to board a flight at Heathrow while more than 12 times the alcohol limit.
