Transatlantic Flight Attendant Arrested for Being Eight Times Alcohol Limit

by Telegraph Reporters, The Daily Telegraph, December 7, 2016

A flight attendant was arrested for being eight times the alcohol limit while on board a trans-Atlantic jet.

Officers smelled alcohol on the breath of American Airlines worker Stacy Rosehill, 57, while she was carrying out an in-flight safety demonstration ahead of a flight from Manchester to Chicago . 

She was escorted off the Boeing 787 Dreamliner plane in October and taken into custody as around 300 passengers were waited for takeoff. Tests showed she had 71 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit under aviation rules is 9mg.

Manchester magistrates court heard Rosehill, from Chicago, had got drunk the previous evening after going to to a "bring your own booze" restaurant with friends during a stopover in Manchester.

It is thought she had been drinking wine before having whisky from her hotel mini-bar at 2am.

She admitted performing an aviation function whilst over over the prescribed limit under the Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003 and was given a £140 fine with £85 legal costs and a £30 victim surcharge.

The senior stewardess, who has worked with American Airlines for 29 years, is currently suspended on full pay and faces a disciplinary hearing in the US when she returns.

Prosecuting, Nicola Yeadon, said: "Miss Rosehill was part of American Airlines cabin crew and was travelling on a Manchester to Chicago bound flight when security smelt alcohol. As a result of that the security staff advised their manager and police officers attended on the aircraft. She had already boarded and indeed its referenced that she had started in flight checks.

"Police spoke with her and smelt alcohol on her so she was subjected to a breath test at the scene. There was a positive reading and she was arrested by officers. At the police station there was a reading of 71mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath.

"To be fair to her, in interview she gave a candid account and said she drank more than usual the night before and felt fine for work but if she had known she was over the limit she would not have gone into work. She had her last drink at 2am.

"She apologised, saying she was sorry and embarrassed at the arrest. She would not have flown if she knew she was over the limit. The legal limit is nine for this offence. She has no prior convictions and is a lady of previous good character."

Defending Rosehill, Paul Reddy said: "She had not flown. She had gone through security but had not flown. She's a US citizen and is from Chicago. She is absolutely humiliated by this matter. She has a 29-year career with the same airline and is a senior member of cabin crew who has been decorated in the past.

"She was staying over as part of her job and went to dinner with friends and they took their own wine and it boils down to a miscalculation. It was a pour your own drink sort of venue and at 2am she had a small miniature whisky in the room to help her sleep.

"That's left her well over the limit and she admitted that straight away and apologised profusely.

"She's suspended without pay but does have some modest savings. She's a single lady that lives on her own and has no dependents. She's not intending to remain in the country and is due to leave tomorrow at noon and has informed me she will make any payment today."

Chair of the bench Richard Blackman told Rosehill: "This is a British system we have the magistrates court here and the matter has been kept in the magistrates because it's within our jurisdiction. The word humiliated has been used and I'm sure you are.

"We hear so much about the safety of passengers on airplanes. You had to deal with your guilt for some considerable time. There's a total of £255 payable today. It's been pointed out that we may not allow you to leave until it's paid but it will be paid.

"You have got to go back to the States now and face this and the consequences with your employer."

 

This article was written by Telegraph Reporters from The Daily Telegraph and was legally licensed through the NewsCred publisher network.