American Airlines flight attendant Stacy Rosehill was removed from a Manchester to Chicago service on October 28 after officers smelt alcohol on her breath while she carried out a safety demonstration ahead of departure.
Tests showed that the 57-year-old, who is a US citizen, had 71 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath.
The legal limit under aviation rules is 9mg.
Manchester magistrates court heard yesterday (December 6) that Rosehill had got drunk the previous evening after going to a "bring your own booze" restaurant with friends during a stopover in Manchester, The Telegraph reports.
It is believed she had been drinking wine before consuming whisky from her hotel mini-bar at 2am.
Rosehill admitted performing an aviation function whilst over the prescribed limit under the Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003 and was issued with a £140 fine with £85 legal costs and a £30 victim surcharge.
The stewardess, who has worked for the US carrier for 29 years is currently suspended on full pay and faces a disciplinary hearing when she returns to America.
Nicola Yeadon, prosecuting said: "Miss Rosehill was part of American Airlines cabin crew and was travelling on a Manchester to Chicago bound flight when security smelt alcohol. As a result of that the security staff advised their manager and police officers attended on the aircraft. She had already boarded and indeed its referenced that she had started in flight checks.
"Police spoke with her and smelt alcohol on her so she was subjected to a breath test at the scene. There was a positive reading and she was arrested by officers. At the police station there was a reading of 71mg of alcohol in 100ml of breath.
"To be fair to her, in interview she gave a candid account and said she drank more than usual the night before and felt fine for work but if she had known she was over the limit she would not have gone into work. She had her last drink at 2am.
"She apologised, saying she was sorry and embarrassed at the arrest. She would not have flown if she knew she was over the limit. The legal limit is nine for this offence. She has no prior convictions and is a lady of previous good character."
Paul Reddy, mitigating said: "She had not flown. She had gone through security but had not flown. She’s a US citizen and is from Chicago. She is absolutely humiliated by this matter. She has a 29-year career with the same airline and is a senior member of cabin crew who has been decorated in the past.
"She was staying over as part of her job and went to dinner with friends and they took their own wine and it boils down to a miscalculation. It was a pour your own drink sort of venue and at 2am she had a small miniature whisky in the room to help her sleep.
"That’s left her well over the limit and she admitted that straight away and apologised profusely.
"She’s suspended without pay but does have some modest savings. She’s a single lady that lives on her own and has no dependents. She’s not intending to remain in the country and is due to leave tomorrow at noon and has informed me she will make any payment today."
