Who is Sam Thompson? Flight attendant, 26, faces PRISON for consuming alcohol while on duty
A 26-year-old Ryanair steward drank Jack Daniels whiskey from the aircraft's drink trolley while on duty and the flight was in the air, a court has been told. A witness reportedly noticed the steward, Sam Thompson drinking the whiskey from the trolley before taking a small bottle of wine from the pocket and "necking the whole bottle". Thompson who is a resident of Warrenfield Close, Cheshunt in Hertfordshire, England, admitted to committing the act as a member of the cabin.
The steward is due to be sentenced to the Chelmsford Magistrates' Court on August 3 and was even told that he has a high chance of getting jailed. The incident took place on May 18 when police were called at around 6 pm after a witness informed about the steward drinking while on duty on a flight. The entire video of Thompson drinking on the flight while showing his ignorance can be seen in the article published by The Sun.
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According to the prosecutor, Nishma Khan, the witness initially noticed the steward drinking whiskey before they "proceeded to film the member of staff". She further added, "He was still on duty while the flight was in the air". Thompson underwent a breath test at the Stansted Airport in Essex that showed a reading of 50mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath, which was later lowered down to 39mcg at Harlow police station.
Khan said that the legal limit is 9mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath which is significantly lower than the legal limit for driving of 35mcg of alcohol per 100ml of breath. Ryanair airlines sacked Thompson immediately due to violating their guidelines and code of conduct. Ryanair crew are banned from drinking for up to eight hours before or during a flight. According to the company's guidelines 'impaired by drugs or alcohol while performing company business' is subject to disciplinary action". The 26-year-old can face up to 2 years of jail time for the crime that he committed under the Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003.
According to The Sun, the flight was operated by their sister company, Lauda Europe. A spokesperson informed, "Lauda Europe policy, in line with European Aviation Safety Agency regulation, prohibits the consumption of alcohol by cabin or flight crew from 8 hours prior to a flight duty until after the duty is complete. Lauda Europe has investigated a reported individual cabin crew breach of this strict policy on a flight from Rzeszow to Stansted (18 May). The cabin crew member in question no longer operates for Lauda Europe."
Sam Thompson is currently out on bail until his sentencing which starts on August 3.