Deborah Merritt sunk the booze to deal with personal issues and was reportedly caught eight times over the alcohol limit while working the flight from London to Spain last month.
A woman has been sacked from her job as a flight attendant after being accused of downing bottles of wine before her shift due to stress.
Deborah Merritt sunk the booze to deal with personal issues and was reportedly caught almost eight times over the alcohol limit while working the flight from London to Spain last month.
The pilot’s wife, aged 59, was working the British Airways flight from Heathrow to Malaga and tests revealed she had an alcohol level of 70mcg in 100ml of breath – but the limit for crew is 9mcg.
Merritt was taken to the back of the aircraft by colleagues and buckled into a seat before being arrested when the plane landed, and has since appeared in court.
They heard how she had worked for British Airways for 37 years before she was sacked after her arrest. In court, she admitted a drink-related charge after a second test showed a reading of 52mcg.
Uxbridge magistrates fined her £768 with £392 in costs.
Defending, Ghulam Ali said Merritt was stressed as she was dealing with a family incident, but did not reveal the circumstances during proceedings.
Mr Ali also told the court that Merritt had a few bottles of wine the day before, but it had remained in her system before her shift.
He said: “She thought it would be out of her system. She doesn’t eat so much.”
Merritt told the court: “I’m devastated I won’t be able to do this job again.”