Flight attendant avoids jail after being found naked and high on meth during flight
A British Airways flight attendant has avoided jail after being discovered high on drugs and naked while in the business class toilets on a plane.
Haden Pentecost has been handed a prison sentence of six months, which has been suspended for a year. Pentecost pled guilty to performing an aviation function while impaired by drugs, and will also have to deliver 80 hours of unpaid work, as well as pay £150 in costs.
In May, Pentecost was due to work on a flight from San Francisco to Heathrow. Before the flight took off, he told colleagues he was suffering from stomach cramps, and later locked himself in a bathroom, where he was found “completely naked and oblivious” to his lack of clothes.
They were able to get medical assistance to Pentecost, whose pupils were dilated, and he was unable to answer simple questions, such as what year it is or the name of the US president. Upon landing in the UK, he was taken to hospital where it was discovered he had methamphetamine and amphetamine in his system.
His lawyer explained that Pentecost took the drugs to “enhance a sexual experience”, but speculated it was stronger than anticipated. Pentecost has since lost his job at British Airways.
Judge Hannah Duncan told him during the sentencing: “You don’t need me to tell you just how serious this offence was. Cabin crew perform an essential safety role. They are there for the comfort of passengers, but if anything goes wrong, it is up to you to make sure they are safe.”
Duncan continued: “It would have been frightening for any passengers to see you in that position. You really let yourself down. You are extremely ashamed, you are mortified, you are teetotal and you will never take drugs again. You have comprehensively addressed the behaviour that led to you being in the dock today.”
Pentecost’s immediate guilty plea and previous good character were listed as reasons why his sentence was only suspended.