Flight delayed due drunk cabin crew member

[Runway 31]

Taken from BBC Scotland website

A member of cabin crew has been arrested on a plane which was about to depart from Aberdeen Airport following concerns she may have drunk too much.

The BMI flight to Faro in Portugal, containing 144 passengers, was delayed for six hours after police arrived to detain the 24-year-old.

It is understood the 0900 BST departure was halted after colleagues of the woman expressed concern.

A report has been sent to the procurator fiscal.

The Airbus A320 plane eventually took off just after 1530 BST, after a replacement crew member was found.

Grampian Police officers breathalysed the woman, believed to be English, before she was arrested.

An Aberdeen Airport spokesman said: "The airport was made aware of an issue with a member of cabin crew and the police were alerted.

"It was unfortunate passengers were subjected to a lengthy delay."

A BMI said it was co-operating fully with the police investigation

[Rwy in Sight]

I loved the reference that the crew member is English.

Rwy in Sight

[Shunter]

Quite... They wouldn't say, "believed to be black", now would they?

[glad rag]

Reference to nationhood totally out of order in that report. Feel free to slay the bbc over this, I have complained.

[haughtney1]

Or Scottish............

[Dan Air 87]

Couldn't they fly the service with 1 crew down?? Most of the other airlines I have flown with (BA, VAA, AF) seem to do this..just curious!

[jet2impress]

They might have already been operating with minimum crew. It's only allowed to operate with less than minimum crew in extreme circumstances, and only if you are down route at the time.

[klog]

Took six hours to find a sober replacement?

Shurely not... :yuk:

[lexxity]

No, it took six hours to get a member of crew to Aberdeen, which is a bmi Regional base (ERJ fleet) NOT a Mainline base (Buses).

[Facelookbovvered]

One would like to think that this could have been dealt with at crew report prior to boarding passengers, i don't condone this but many have been there. At a guess it seems like a night stop crew, not a lot to do in Dyce:sad:

[Duck Rogers]

Fifteen posts thus far, five off topic and deleted.

I'd really like not to have to monitor this thread all night so can we stay on topic please? Anyone feeling unable to exercise self control let me know and I can click the button labelled 'Thread Ban' for you.

Thanks.

Duck

[jayethan]

Personally this comes as no shock to me as most cabin crew induldge in lima delta`s (Landing drinks) but then you get the odd one that has delta`s no matter what time?

[Nov71]

6 hour delay - how close would the aircrew be on hours or did they change as well?

[Flintstone]

Runway 31.

Your thread title says crew member was drunk. In your first post where you quote the story you say she may have drunk too much.

Innocent until proven guilty? Or do you have information that the rest of us don't?

[Lauderdale]

It is a shame the rest of the crew didnt protect her from herself and 'prevented' her from operating at the briefing stage.

We should be careful with jumping to conclusions though - wouldnt be the 1st time hypoglacemia has been mistaken for drunkenness, or that the press have taken a story totally out of context. A former cc friend of mine was hounded (literally) by the press over a 'drunk onboard story' which was completely unfounded and almost destroyed her life.

As always - lets reserve judgement until we know the facts.

[411A]

On the other hand, Lauderdale, the story could well be true.
The police will investigate, and the county will press charges, if it is warranted.

Wouldn't be the first time, now would it?:rolleyes:

Personally this comes as no shock to me as most cabin crew induldge in lima delta`s (Landing drinks) but then you get the odd one that has delta`s no matter what time?

'Reverse thrust' was common years ago for FD crew...perhaps the CC have not come to terms with the fact that folks are actually looking for misbehaviour, nowadays.

Shape up...or ship out.

[surely not]

Agree with all the comments asking why this wasn't sorted out in the privacy of the crew room?? ................though reading the report again it isn't clear whether this was on board the aircraft or not.

No problems with the BBC mentioning that she was English. It is a fact, not a racial slur. There is no inference that ALL English flight crew are drunks.

[barroon]

I agree with glad rag. It is not a fact that they were Engish. The crew may or may not have been based south of the border, but with the amount of Europeans bmi have recruited to cover their midhaul routes this person could be any nationality, so they may not have been British never mind English

[Stop Stop Stop]

I too have complained to the BBC over these comments. It is the sort of nationalistic crap that the Scots like to use, particularly with respect to the English. It is, in fact, racism of the highest order and really should not be tolerated in the Media, particularly the BBC who are supposed to be aware of this sort of thing.

Had the report stated "Grampian Police officers breathalysed the woman, believed to be Black, before she was arrested," there would be uproar!

It was unnecessary to the article and as such warrants a complaint. It's very much like saying to the (probably mainly Scottish) readers who would read between the lines... "if it had been a Scottish girl then none of you would have been inconvenienced on your holiday trip."

No wonder everyone on this website hates journalists!

[williewalsh]

I would imagine that the reson she was referred to as English was to point out the news worthy and unusual element to the story.Most Haggis bashers would assume it was just another Paisley pishheed or Mrs Rab c nesbit and not regard it as unusual behaviour. Thus not news.

[757_Driver]

Good grief. If this had been a report about an allegedly drunken passenger, there'd have been none of this "innocent till proven guilty" and "could just have been a medical condition" malarky. Just the usual mob hollering to lock 'em up and throw away the key.

thats not a fair comparison -for drunk passenger reports, althought the 'drunkenness' is not proven, the behaviour that caused the incident most certainly isn't. If a pax goes on the rampage, hitting crew members, trying to open doors etc, to be honest who cares if they really are drunk or not. They have still caused a major incident and broken the law.
I'm not defending this crew member if they were drunk, however there have been enough cases recently of malicious accusations (mainly from security) that the outcome of this should be awaited before throwing too many stones. The alcohol limits we work to are very low and the police aparently generally have to arrest people upon an accusation and cart them off for a blood test as teh breathaliser doesn't work to such low limits. in most recent cases the person concerned has been found to be innocent once all the evidence has come back.

and PS the 'english' bit in the story IS well out of order IMO. Unfortunately typical racist crap we've come to expect recently from north of the border. Funny how english / british / irish nationalism is a synonym for racism or terrorism, but scottish nationalism is somehow ok,even though they preach an incredibly racist message. :rolleyes:

[SLFguy]

Andy Murray is British. Fact. :cool:

[Lauderdale]

Quote:
Good grief. If this had been a report about an allegedly drunken passenger, there'd have been none of this "innocent till proven guilty" and "could just have been a medical condition" malarky. Just the usual mob hollering to lock 'em up and throw away the key.

Funny that - in all my years of flying have seen hundreds (if not thousands) of drunk slf on board a/c, hundreds of verbal assaults, and dozens of physical incidents (including many sexual harrassements), 99.9999% of which never get reported as this sort of behaviour seems to have been accepted as normal.

When was the last time you operated a slot 3 IBZ Gobonastick? Exactly.

However I have never heard of crew assualting slf in any way shape of form. I am just taking a resposnsible stance where I believe in innocent til proven guilty and take whatever is reported in the press with 10 kilo's of salt.


411A
Shape up...or ship out.


While airlines keep on employing kids (first job, first time away from home/hotel, easy access to booze etc etc), (cuz they are soooo cheap to employ, and will not argue with sometimes atrocious management) these things will happen - whilst the industry pays peanuts often the responsibility should be sought there.
Are you flight crew 411A? Cuz if you are then please don't tell me you have never sat in a hotel room minus 4 hours to report haveing a bevvy or two. Fact that the you (or I for that matter) have never been 'caught' doesnt give us the God given right to start passing willy nilly judgement on others.

;)

[PC767]

Having first flown as crew in 1990 I joined then then Britannia Airways at the very tail end of landing drinks. It was being stamped on then and only a few die-hards indulged. At least in the UK. Since returning to flying as crew it is only ever heard of as a throw back to the golden days and in my experienced certainly not practiced.

Landing drinks are not common practice. Full stop.

And the girl has not been charged according to the article so remains an innocent person under suspicion of an offence. Could the problem have been identifed earlier? It may well have been, but the benefit of doubt may have been applied due to operational pressure, until it was clear that the right thing to do was to stop the flight and investigate.

[sispanys ria]

What kind of professional forum is this ? What has the nationality to do with being professional and not flying drunk ? I find ridiculous to start those discussion about the crew maybe not being English or Scottish... is it what does really matter ?!? Wherever she/he may come from, the problem comes from the alcohol issue.
Of course if the moderator has no other choice than to ban me when I mention that alcohol is a real issue in UK AND in many other countries, then he can proceed (which would demonstrate solid elaboration).
My personal feeling is that attitude toward alcohol has been drifting for years. When I was living in French Britany it was very common to see hundreds of drunk students in the streets every fridays, some of them throwing up and peeing in their pants while others were just destroying whatever was around them. It's absolutely irresponsible to neglect the dangers of alcohol and just to relate it to funny parties. People are dying and some other are killed everyday because of alcohol. While it's not a problem to have fun with it, it is a social issue and an education matter.

[thewatcher]

"Grampian Police officers breathalysed the woman, believed to be English, before she was arrested"

What the police believed about the nationality of the drunk crew member I care less! We are wise enough not label a nation based on this article so don't be so touchy about that!

Professionally speaking the situation is severe no matter the sex of the crew member but for me the situation is even more disgusting as the person involved is a woman!!! Its a shame! :=

[BaronChotzinoff]

Did she fail the "walk the wing" test then?

Sounds like a revision of the trad. song is in order:-

"What shall we do with a drunken hostie? ...
... Put her in the galley with a sick-bag near her ..." etc

[c2lass]

Holiday jet stuck for hours by arrest of cabin crew girl - Press & Journal (http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/770958?UserKey=0)

Here is the story from our wonderful (not) local rag.

[TightSlot]

of course if the moderator has no other choice than to ban me... Blah, Blah, Blah

sispanys ria - Please try and post like an adult, no matter how hard you may find it to do so. Moderators are not here to police your private agenda, so long as it doesn't offend others, so please don't use our time and efforts to bolster some sort of hypothetical martyrdom for yourself.

I think the whole 'English' thing has been covered to death now, so please could we move on and discuss the real issues surrounding the incident, rather than the perceived ones.

[BecauseCIDSsays_so!]

I must agree with PC767, Landing Drinks are not commonplace anymore. I have been flying for 6 years with 3 different airlines (therefore hundreds of sectors and colleagues) and I have never, ever, heard of, or experienced anyone having Landing Drinks in that time. It's a thing of the past.

It is not commonplace by any means, so please don't lead others, who may not have first hand knowledge of the industry, to think it is.

[Lauderdale]

I second that last post - last time is saw that going on was 1996-1997'ish.

[Basil]

Yes, in my experience landing drinks have, regrettably, gone.
Just to make the point clear: 'landing' drinks were usually brought to the flight deck after arriving on the stand.
Allegedly, and perhaps a US Pruner can confirm, FAA inspectors noted a crew having a drink on the flight deck and decided to make an issue of it :(

In this case, landing drinks don't appear to be relevant.

[The Real Slim Shady]

Nationality has no relevance.

Landing drinks / choctails....went out with the Atlantic Barons.

Virgin pilot removed from flightdeck for being drunk..........turns out he was on a diet!!!

Let's minimise the speculation and wait for a more accurate police report.

Innocent until proven guilty.

[Runway 31]

More info after a court appearance yesterday, again from the BBC

An air stewardess has appeared in court charged with drinking alcohol before working on a plane.

******** ********, 24, is alleged to have been working on a BMI Airbus A320 while over the drink-drive limit when she was arrested.

The aircraft was due to leave Aberdeen at 0900 BST on Sunday and was bound for Faro in Portugal's Algarve region.

Ms *******, from Liss, Hampshire, made no plea and the case was continued at Aberdeen Sheriff Court.

The 24-year-old was charged with performing an aviation function with 57 microgrammes of alcohol per 100ml in her system, contrary to the Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003 Section 93 (1).

The drink-drive limit is 35 microgrammes per 100ml of breath.

The flight eventually took off just after 1530 BST on Sunday.

Her solicitor Mike Munro told the court he needed more time to look into the act under which she was charged because he had never dealt with such a case before.

The case was continued until later in August.

[Facelookbovvered]

Poor kid, must have been hamered if she was still showing that blood/alcohol level at report at 09:00, she must have had some sleep.

It wont stop here, who was she drinking with (she wasn't local crew) i expect the entire industry will get a memo from their flight ops over the next few days.

After landing drinks, the good old days lol! only seen it once about 15 years ago, ironically that was in ABZ , seemed a waste to poor good champange down the loo

I hope bmi look after her and not just throw here to the lions, she will probably get fined more than Globespan did for ignoring the MEL and of course she's English so throw away the keys:suspect:

Fly drink limit much lower !!

Drink-Driving Law in the UK

The Legal Limit The UK legal limit for drivers is 80 mg of alcohol per 100 ml of blood, often referred to as a BAC or blood-alcohol concentration. In US terms this would be expressed as 0.08%. This is alternatively expressed in terms of breath alcohol - 35 µg (microgrammes) per 100 ml (which is now the usual official measure in the UK), or alcohol in the urine - 107 mg per 100 ml.

[Basil]

Been covered elsewhere but chapter and verse here (http://www.opsi.gov.uk/ACTS/acts2003/ukpga_20030020_en_7#pt5-pb1-l1g93)
Sobering (literally) point for non professional aviation Pruners is that our limit is a quarter of the drink drive limit.

[Maude Charlee]

Landing drinks, what a silly idea. You might spill it. Best to get it down yer neck in the cruise. :p

[sussex2]

As the partner of a senior CC member and someone who travels a lot with them I can honestly say I have never experienced 'landing drinks'.
Years ago maybe (my father was a 707 captain) the practice was common.
My partner allows at least 24hrs between any drink and working. Thus, a backtoback N. Atlantic trip involves no alcohol at all.
My own experience of being downroute many times is that the vast majority of people abide by this.
One thing that would put the publics mind at rest over this is random drink and drug test; something already in place in other industries and not at all uncommon with airlines.
Everyone would then know quite clearly where they stand, no ifs buts or maybe's..

[Beer_n_Tabs]

I hope bmi look after her and not just throw here to the lions, she will probably get fined more than Globespan did for ignoring the MEL and of course she's English so throw away the keys:suspect:


Even if she is found guilty?

I think its fair to say that in any industry if you are guilty of being p*ssed at work then your employer has no obligation to look after you.

The drinks were not forced down her neck, if it turns out she is guilty, then unlucky, tough t*tties, and she should be sacked..... she ran the risk, and got caught, end of.

[Lauderdale]

The drinks were not forced down her neck, if it turns out she is guilty, then unlucky, tough t*tties, and she should be sacked..... she ran the risk, and got caught, end of.


Uhm - no! :=

Dealing with an employee with a possible alcohol problem

Employees with a drink problem have the same rights to confidentiality and support as they would if they had any other medical or psychological condition.
Disciplinary action should be a last resort. A court may find a dismissal unfair if an employer has made no attempt to help an employee whose work problems are related to drinking alcohol.
The cost of recruiting and training a replacement may be greater than the cost of allowing someone time off to obtain expert help.
Many people with an alcohol problem are able in time to regain full control over their drinking and return to their previous work performance.
It may be very difficult for people to admit to themselves or others that their drinking is out of control. They need to know that you will treat their drinking problem as a health problem rather than an immediate cause for dismissal or disciplinary action.
If employees’ drinking is a matter of concern, they should be encouraged to seek help from their GP or a specialist alcohol agency.The above is from the HSE.

Beer_n_tabs make sure you know some employment law/good practice before you start throwing dirt.

:ok:

[Beer_n_Tabs]

Ahhhh sorry I didn't realise she had a "drinking problem".

I was under the assumption (perhaps wrongly) that she had a few sherry's to many before going to work, and got caught out.

I keep forgetting that in this PC age, and human rights legislative world we live in that you don't just go out and get p*ssed anymore. We all need a label...binge drinker, alcoholic etc etc

:ok:

Anyway I myself will shortly be going to feast my craving for alcohol by binging on a few beers soon.... I might even have a Tab to.

Cor HSE would love me ;)

[Lauderdale]

I think its fair to say that in any industry if you are guilty of being p*ssed at work then your employer has no obligation to look after you.


That was making a factual statement - and I was making a factual response. Many peeps are not aware of what employment legislation is in place until they encounter these issues. Like it or not this is what employers have to work with. :8

On a personal level we probably agree in regards to the 'spirit' (pun intended) of what should happen to her should she be found 'guilty'.

:ok:

[SOTV]

Cuz if you are then please don't tell me you have never sat in a hotel room minus 4 hours to report haveing a bevvy or two. Fact that the you (or I for that matter) have never been 'caught' doesnt give us the God given right to start passing willy nilly judgement on others.


Yes, I am subject to the same act as you concerning transport workers and alcohol and your statement on 'having a bevvy or two' four hours before reporting beggars belief. You have just admitted being under the influence of alcohol when reporting for duty but have 'never been caught'. What about the duty of care you have to your passengers/other crew members.

Dealing with an employee with a possible alcohol problem

Employees with a drink problem have the same rights to confidentiality and support as they would if they had any other medical or psychological condition.
Disciplinary action should be a last resort. A court may find a dismissal unfair if an employer has made no attempt to help an employee whose work problems are related to drinking alcohol.
The cost of recruiting and training a replacement may be greater than the cost of allowing someone time off to obtain expert help.
Many people with an alcohol problem are able in time to regain full control over their drinking and return to their previous work performance.
It may be very difficult for people to admit to themselves or others that their drinking is out of control. They need to know that you will treat their drinking problem as a health problem rather than an immediate cause for dismissal or disciplinary action.
If employees’ drinking is a matter of concern, they should be encouraged to seek help from their GP or a specialist alcohol agency.The above is from the HSE.


It is from the HSE. It is document of guidance not a matter of law. Your company Drugs and Alcohol policy states what your company requires and the penalties for not complying with it. My company states that a positive test of 1-5 mg/100ml is ignored as a natural level of alcohol may exist in the blood. 6-19mg/100ml is a final written warning along with help and support. 20+mg/100ml and you are down the road, no questions, no pensions, no nothing.

The onus is on the employee to seek help for a drugs or alcohol problem before it shows in a test not crying after the fact.

[Beer_n_Tabs]

That was making a factual statement - and I was making a factual response. Many peeps are not aware of what employment legislation is in place until they encounter these issues. Like it or not this is what employers have to work with. :8



Point taken :ok:
I will bear that legislation in mind next time I have a hangover and can't be arsed to go to work :}

Cheers
*use of the word cheers was not meant to imply the 'chinking' of glasses which may imply the drinking of alchohol in the work environment, which if indeed was the case could also imply that I had a drink related 'problem'. As it would imply that I was implying drinking in said work environment was suitable action

*BURPPP*

[Lauderdale]

SOTV

1) wrong - if you as an employee claim you have an alcohol problem/addiction the company can not sack you (after having been caught, and yes....most probably lie!). Having worked as an Union official (level 2, whatever that means) for over 7 years I know that from experience. Please seperate personal opinion from the legal hoops and responsabilities.

2) You obviously have never worked as crew (airline).

Brgds

[SOTV]

Many peeps are not aware of what employment legislation is in place until they encounter these issues. Like it or not this is what employers have to work with. :8


It is not legislation. It is not enacted in law. It is guidance. You may be unfairly dismissed but this is a matter for civil courts/tribunals to decide not the HSE.

[sec4]

The story I heard is that the cabin crew member had antagonised security staff before boarding, over carrying on a bottle of water!!? It was they that then suspecter her of smelling of booze and called in the checks. The whole crew were then taken off and breathalised. The crew were all cleared, except for her! During this process the whole team were stood down from the flight and a new crew positioned in from elsewhere; hence the delay.

[Lauderdale]

Oh boy...............


You may be unfairly dismissed but this is a matter for civil courts/tribunals to decide not the HSE.


SOTV - this exactly my point! I used the HSE as an example as to what employers have to deal with! It isnt simply a case of playing Donald Trump! Again, my personal opinion or yours isnt what at issue here, it is what employers have to deal with to avoid exactly that: unfair dismissal.

If an employee claims he/she is an alcoholic due to stresses at work etc (again might be a lie but is irrelevant) then an employer will undertake a different course of action than dismissal, they will offer councelling, different place of work etc etc Anything to make sure that at the end of the road they do not get unfair dismissal thrown in their face!

[c2lass]

Must have been "grumpy" security this weekend. My mum flew from ABZ to MAN on Saturday and was quite upset at the way Security spoke to her and the terrible attitude of the male security person in ABZ!

[Lauderdale]

Have a read through some of the postings dealing with security at UK airports...........better wear a helmet!

Most crew actually fall over because of antics back in the hotel (wrecking a room , not paying the room bill, being rude to hotel staff etc ) as the hotel staff then report the crew to the airport security peeps for being under the influence......

(Yes....as they heard them run through the corridors 2 hours before check out.....).

[SOTV]

Lauderdale, I agree with you but this help and counselling can not be retrospective. You could not fail a road alcohol test and expect to get a fortnight in the Priory. You would get a ban. No questions.

By your reasoning any pilot, FA, train driver etc etc could turn up pissed, fail a test and claim to be drinking heavily because of work related stress and get help. It can not work like that.

[Lauderdale]

Mate - off course it doesnt.

First of all the crew member would be suspended etc, offered duties elswhere.

"Asked to leave" - so they resign enabling them to have a 'clean' CV rather than being sacked (I have seen that one sooo many times!).

An investigation would take place formal/informal etc etc, it really is an arduous process and if the employee really has a problem he/she will cooperate and help will be offered (and rightfully so), in most cases the "asked to leave" will apply as the 'piss takers' will rather take the easy way out.

Another thing people do in that case is go 'sick' straight away, go to the GP (again say they are an alcoholic) as whilst this is going on the person in question can not be sacked......

I have sat on both sides of the table (1st as Union rep, now as manager) it really is a mine field!.

I have seen so many piss takes and as an employer you really need to jump through all the hoops to avoid exactly that unfair dismissal scenario.

[A300Man]

Once again, the PPRuNe "Judge and Jury" emerges when another case of broken rules reaches the headlines.

I know that:

a) The job carries a huge safety responsibility and, hence, being drunk on duty is not at all an acceptable scenario;

b) The image one has of "flight attendants" is always of the polished professional, groomed to the hilt and incapable of falling into the traps that many other humans do, because they jet around the world, with polished nails and Loius Vuitton handbags strapped to them;

c).....and, therefore, the sight of a flight attendant being "led from the aircraft, staggering all over the place with mascara running down her face, surrounded by policemen...." does not befit the stereotypical illusion of the regular flight attendant. (Quote taken from Aberdeen Press & Journal Newspaper);

d) The lady may have made a terrible mistake and was ruthless and careless by blatantly ignoring the rules and staying up all night at the hotel bar or raiding the minibar at the Airport Thistle Hotel, or.......or......or.....or;

Whatever the case may be, there is a very possible chance that the lady involved does have a problem with alcohol. Perhaps she had just received some bad news that she couldn't cope with. Perhaps someone had just died. Perhaps she had just been told of some major illness. Perhaps.....perhaps......perhaps.

The fact of the matter is that we are dealing with another human being. She is as much human as the rest of us. She is susceptible to the same failings as all of us. She is capable of making a mistake, just as all of us are. Maybe she really screwed up. Yet, all of us do, from time to time and in some way.

Therefore, holding court as the judge and jury here on this forum, where probably NONE of us knows any of the real facts, is a downright dis-service to the individual concerned and to the authorities involved. We are all happy to sit here at our keyboards and bang away anonymously that she should be immediately fired and have the book thrown at her, etc.....

Before anyone starts the judgements again, please re-read point a) of my post. I am not denying that this is a serious issue and do not condone blatant disregard for the safety of 180 passengers. But, WE here at the forum are NOT carrying the authority to make the statements that many of us have done during the course of this particular thread.

[The Real Slim Shady]

The image one has of "flight attendants" is always of the polished professional, groomed to the hilt ...... because they jet around the world, with polished nails and Loius Vuitton handbags strapped to them

You obviously know my other half ;);)

[glad rag]

BBC twonks
Reference to nationhood totally out of order in that report. Feel free to slay the bbc over this, I have complained.



Reply from BBC

Glad,

Thanks for your email.

Your query was passed to the editor responsible for this online news
content, who has asked that I forward his responds as follows:

"I do not believe that the reference to the woman apparently being English
was racist.

The reference was initially included as a piece of additional information,
as we had no other details about the woman involved. Had we known exactly
where she was from we would have included that, much as we would have said
had she been a local woman.

However, the reference was later removed from the story. When she appeared
in court we subsequently reported that she was from Liss in Hampshire."

Nevertheless, I'd like to assure you that we've registered your comments on
our audience log. This is the internal report of audience feedback which we
compile daily for all programme makers and commissioning executives within
the BBC, and also their senior management. It ensures that your points, and
all other comments we receive, are circulated and considered across the BBC.

Thanks again for taking the time to contact us with your concerns.

Regards

Gemma McAleer
BBC Complaints

[Ralph the Bong]

There are aspects to this thread that make me sick. I don't even know this woman, yet if have been put under the impression from the posts above that she has a "drinking problem". Is that the same as being an "alcoholic"? This could be defamatory. If I met her, the first thing that I would think of her is that she is a 'p1sshead', if I based my opinion on pre-judgements formed by this thread.

The sort of galley gossip that I have heard in recent times makes me hate some of the people in this industry; today's Galley Goss somehow becomes tommorrow's Facts.

In rumours from the past, I have heard stories of a CC memeber who was supposed to have date raped another FA and a Captain who was alledged to be having an affair with a co-worker. In both cases, the allegations were baseless and yet the 2 men involved suffered horribly.

The male FA was ostrasized by many of the co-workers who bidded to avoid him even after is was proven that he had not even had sex with the woman. In the end, it destroyed his career because, as thay say, 'Mud Sticks' and after he left, nobody in other companies would touch him. In the case of the Captain who was supposedly having an affair, his wife was told of the allegation by a female CM who had heard the rumour and felt moral outraged. It didn't end his marriage, but came close to it. This Captain is a good friend of mine.

I hope that she is cleared of this just so she can sue the people who have slandered her. I am not surprised that peopel been so quick to make nasty judgements. That's the sad, sick side of human nature.

[Facelookbovvered]

Give the girl a break, she as been very silly and will pay a high price in terms of her employment and by being publicly named and shamed, but she's still someone Daughter and a human being. There is next to no chance that what she did would have impared the safety of the flight, however there are rules and she was on the wrong side of line.

Right now there will be people all over the world leaving a bar and thinking "i ought not to have had that last drink" on duty in 6 hours or less, there will be a few less beacuse of the publicity surrounding this case.

There is no mileage for bmi in dumping her, yes she will get sacked, but i suspect she will have resigned already.

[HZ123]

Most staff working for our airline have a drink problem. In fact surely everyone in the UK is effected by those with drink problems. The hospitals are inundated with drink related cases, when we travel abroad we set out to get out of our heads with drink. Why is this such a shock some of you seem to live in a cocoon or need to get out more the subject is surely closed or exhausted.

[frontcheck]

"Most staff working for our airline have a drink problem"

This is a bit of a sweeping statement, certainly not the case with my emlpoyer

[Facelookbovvered]

Any truth that the girl has done a runner back to Eastern Europe?

[Chris Gains]

In the UK Railway industry any staff that do a "safety critical" job (Including office staff) are subject to random drugs screening. Fail and you are dissmissed. No if, buts or maybes. This is supported by all of the relevant unions including the RMT who have to be one of the most militant in the UK!!
However if you tell the company before you get caught they will bend over backwards to help you....... Maybe it's time to introduce this in the Aviation sector....... (retreats to bunker to shelter from incoming fire!!!!)

[Chippie Chappie]

A day or two ago, I heard the DJ on Virgin or Xfm say that he'd just received a call from someone who'd been out on an all night bender and was now off to work at Gatwick...as cabin crew. If it was true, I thought it was kind of dumb to announce the fact on national radio.

Chips

[SLFguy]

"A day or two ago, I heard the DJ on Virgin or Xfm say that he'd just received a call from someone who'd been out on an all night bender and was now off to work at Gatwick...as cabin crew. If it was true, I thought it was kind of dumb."


FYP

[Stop Stop Stop]

...safety critical" job (Including office staff) are subject to random drugs screening. Fail and you are dissmissed

I think it is a little more serious than that. If the lady in question is convicted in a court (and at the moment, she is only under suspicion of having drunk too much, then given the precedents in these trials, she faces a lot more than just being dismissed.

In the cases that have come to court in this country and a conviction made, the crews concerned have lost their liberty as well as their career.

I think this young lady is in a lot of trouble if she is convicted and may well face prison. It is about time that the people in this industry remember that when they are running up and down the corridors at three in the morning! If you have overdone it one night, a simple call to crewing will solve the problem- and if you DO have a drink problem, THAT is the time to seek help, not after you have been led away in handcuffs!!

I feel very sorry for the young lady concerned and seriously hope for her benefit that she is aquitted at trial or she will likely face a very uncertain future.

[tangoecho]

Air hostess fined £400 for being six times limit - Press & Journal (http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/805172)

[Virginia]

There for the grace of God...

[c2lass]

Cannot believe she only had two cocktails then shared two bottles of wine with others, in the afternoon before the 9.00am flight? How on earth could she be so much over the limit?

Then again I don't believe much I read in the P&J!!

[tangoecho]

From what I heard they or she gate crashed a wedding on the saturday night in the hotel. not sure if true though.:uhoh: