Overview
- Margit Lake, 56, pleaded guilty at Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court to performing an aviation function over the prescribed alcohol limit.
- Medical staff met the San Francisco–to–Heathrow flight on Oct. 17, noted alcohol on her breath and low blood pressure, and a subsequent test recorded 216 mg/100 ml against the 20 mg limit.
- Magistrates imposed financial penalties totaling £2,130, including a £1,461 fine, a £584 victim surcharge and £85 in costs, and did not impose a prison sentence.
- The court heard she consumed several small bottles of vodka during the 10-hour flight, with the prosecutor describing an obvious risk to herself and passengers.
- Lake resigned from United Airlines after a 26-year career, and her lawyer said she has been attending Alcoholics Anonymous nearly daily; United and Heathrow declined to comment.