A longtime British Airways flight attendant has lost her job after allegedly showing up to work heavily intoxicated following a night of drinking “a few bottles of wine.”
Deborah Merritt, 59, was arrested last month after coworkers reportedly noticed she was unsteady on her feet before a flight from London Heathrow Airport to Malaga, Spain.
According to reports, Merritt registered a blood alcohol level of 0.147% — nearly twice the legal driving limit in the United States and reportedly around eight times higher than what airline crew members are permitted to have while working.
The shocking incident unfolded aboard an Airbus A320 as passengers prepared for the flight to take off.
Crew members reportedly became concerned about Merritt’s condition after noticing she appeared visibly impaired. She was eventually escorted to the back of the aircraft and buckled into a seat during the flight.
Once the plane landed in Spain, authorities arrested her.
Merritt later pleaded guilty to alcohol-related charges in court.
Her solicitor, Ghulam Ali, claimed the veteran flight attendant believed the alcohol was no longer in her system after drinking heavily the previous day.
“She had a few bottles of wine the day before,” Ali reportedly told the court. “She thought it was out of her system. She didn’t eat much.”
The attorney also said Merritt had been dealing with stress connected to a family matter at the time of the incident.
The now-former flight attendant had reportedly worked for British Airways for 37 years and is also married to a pilot.
During court proceedings, Merritt reportedly said she was “devastated” over losing the career she had spent decades building.
She was fined approximately $1,590.
British Airways has not publicly commented on the incident.
What's Up Team