A SENIOR British air steward has been jailed for 60 days for turning up for a flight to the UK reeking of booze and perfume.
Christopher Smith, 48, sparked safety concerns when he reported for duty for an SAS Scandinavian Airlines flight from Oslo to London.
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Colleagues alerted cops after he was said to smell of both alcohol and strong perfume.
Police breathalysed the married dad and he admitted drinking “a couple of pints” the evening before reporting for duty for the afternoon flight.
But airlines including SAS operate a zero tolerance policy to boozing by staff responsible for passenger safety and emergency evacuations.
And Smith’s breath was found to contain 0.74 micrograms per of alcohol per litre of air – when the legal limit for air crew is 0.01.
Smith told a court at Lillestrom, Norway that he did not remember anything of the day he was due to fly or the evening before after suffering an epileptic fit the day after his arrest.
His lawyer told the hearing that his client’s memory remained completely blank from the fit on September 14 and he was even unable to recall how he got to the airport.
He was taken to hospital and appeared in court on November 7, when he pleaded guilty to reporting for duty while intoxicated.
A police officer said Smith – a former British Airways steward originally from Stockport, Greater Manchester – appeared stressed and agitated when she arrived.
The court’s judgement said readings suggested he had been drinking more than he had told the court and that there were no excuses, given his profession.
The judgement read: “There is a significant potential for danger when cabin crew members who are not sober … in emergency situations, even if these rarely occur.
“This justifies the need to react strictly to such violations.”
It was unclear why Smith smelled of perfume but police suspected he had used aftershave to mask booze fumes.
The offence carries a sentence of 75 days in prison but Smith was granted a 15-day reduction thanks to “full confession” to police.
SAS said last night that its jailed employee would now face disciplinary action and confirmed sanctions could include dismissal.
A spokeswoman said: “We have very clear procedures which will be followed and will be judged on the facts relating to the individual case.
“But we take these matters extremely seriously.”
It comes after married British Airways pilot Mike Beaton was reported to bosses, drug-tested, and sacked having revealed to a stewardess friend his drug and drink orgy antics.
He snorted coke off a woman’s bare breasts before trying to fly a packed jet to the UK, admitting to a colleague: “I’ve been a very naughty boy.”
Nick Parker
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