US air stewardess, 56, was TEN times the alcohol limit after downing mini bottles of vodka on flight to Heathrow

A United Airlines stewardess was ten times the legal limit to fly after she downed vodka on a transatlantic jet, a court heard.

Margit Lake, 56, had to be hospitalized after sneaking ‘multiple miniature bottles’ of alcohol on a ten-hour flight from San Francisco to Heathrow last month.

The California stewardess’ blood pressure dropped and paramedics ‘smelled alcohol on her breath’ after the Boeing 777 landed in London, the court heard.

A blood test later revealed Lake had 216 milligrams of alcohol per 100 milliliters of blood; This is more than ten times the legal limit for flight attendants in the UK.

The court heard Lake had worked for United Airlines for 26 years but had since resigned and attended Alcoholics Anonymous almost daily.

He appeared at Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court wearing a black cardigan and admitted carrying out aviation duty on October 17 when he was over the alcohol limit.

Fined £1,461, victim surcharge of £584 and court costs of £85.

Ben Lansbury, defending, said Lake felt ‘isolated’, estranged from his family and ‘dealing with grief’.

Mr Lansbury said: ‘He drank alcohol because he needed to calm down. What happened was a big shock to him. He deeply regrets what happened.

‘Ms Lake has been attending Alcoholics Anonymous almost every day since the last hearing. He is supported by his colleagues in the UK and they are sitting at the back of the field.’

Judge Tony Delliston told him: ‘We will not refer this to the crown court. We can handle this issue here.

‘You won’t go to jail. ‘We will handle this situation with a financial penalty.’