A United Airlines flight attendant was found to be severely intoxicated, registering a blood alcohol level over ten times the legal limit for flying after consuming a significant amount of vodka on a transatlantic journey.
Margit Lake, aged 56, managed to bring numerous small bottles of vodka onto the plane during the ten-hour flight from San Francisco to Heathrow on October 17. She drank some of the alcohol and had to be hospitalized upon landing in London.
Reports indicate that the California-based flight attendant, who had worked for United Airlines for 26 years, had unusually low blood pressure and emitted a strong smell of alcohol when examined by paramedics. Subsequent blood tests revealed that Lake had 216 milligrams of alcohol per 100 milliliters in her system, far surpassing the legal limit.
At the Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court hearing, Lake admitted to performing her duties while exceeding the legal alcohol limit. She resigned from her position at United Airlines following the incident.
Lake’s defense attorney, Ben Lansbury, mentioned that she was struggling with feelings of isolation, estrangement from her family, and grief, leading her to consume alcohol to calm down. He expressed Lake’s deep regret over the situation and noted that she had been attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings regularly since the incident.
Magistrate Tony Delliston assured Lake that the case would not be escalated to the crown court and that she would not face imprisonment. Instead, she was fined £1,461, along with a victim surcharge of £584 and court costs of £85 for the offense.