A flight attendant from United Airlines was found to have consumed an excessive amount of vodka, putting her at ten times the legal limit for flying during a transatlantic journey. Margit Lake, aged 56, managed to bring multiple miniature bottles of vodka onto the flight from San Francisco to Heathrow, where she drank them before needing medical attention upon landing in London.
Reports from Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court revealed that Lake, a Californian resident with a history of low blood pressure, had a staggering 216 milligrams of alcohol per 100 milliliters in her blood, significantly exceeding the legal limit by more than tenfold. Following the incident, Lake, who had served as a flight attendant for United Airlines for 26 years, chose to resign from her position.
During the court proceedings, it was disclosed that the legal blood alcohol limit for flight attendants in the UK stands at 20 milligrams per 100 milliliters. Lake, dressed in a black cardigan, admitted to performing her duties while surpassing the alcohol limit.
In her defense, Ben Lansbury stated that Lake was experiencing feelings of isolation, estrangement from her family, and coping with grief, which led her to consume alcohol to calm down. He expressed Lake’s deep regret for the incident and shared that she has been actively attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings for support.
Magistrate Tony Delliston assured Lake that the case would be handled within the magistrates’ court without escalation to the crown court, with the resolution being a financial penalty instead of imprisonment. Lake was subsequently fined a total of £2,130, including a financial penalty, victim surcharge, and court costs.
