Naked and high flight attendant handed suspended sentence

A British Airways flight attendant was found naked and under the influence of methamphetamine and amphetamine on a transatlantic flight, and was sentenced to a six-month prison term, suspended for 12 months, by Isleworth Crown Court after admitting to performing an aviation function while impaired by drugs.

Haden Pentecost, 41, was due to work on a San Francisco to London Heathrow service in May. Before the journey, he told colleagues he was suffering stomach cramps but insisted he was fit for duty. On board, cabin managers found him at the bottom of the stairs, described as dishevelled, pale, sweaty and erratic. He locked himself in a bathroom and, when he emerged, was completely naked and unaware that he had no clothes on, prosecutors said. The captain was alerted and medical professionals were summoned to assist. Pentecost drank 15 to 20 bottles of water during the flight, had dilated pupils and could not answer basic questions about the year or the U.S. president. The disruption created a significant distraction for the crew, though no passengers were aware of his condition. The aircraft landed safely at Heathrow, where paramedics met the plane and took Pentecost to Hillingdon Hospital. A blood test later detected methamphetamine and amphetamine, and he was subsequently dismissed from his job.

Isleworth Crown Court heard that the offence carried a maximum penalty of two years in prison, but there were no sentencing guidelines to guide the court because the case was described as unique. Prosecutor Natasha Lake noted that Pentecost had failed to complete pre-flight safety checks and that colleagues had to manage the 10-and-a-half-hour flight without his assistance. The court was told there were no passengers who reported awareness of the incident.

The judge, Judge Hannah Duncan, acknowledged there was substantial mitigation in Pentecost's case, including his prior good character and his immediate guilty plea. She noted that while the behaviour was serious, it was not violent or aggressive. The sentence was reduced from an initial 12 months to nine months due to mitigation, and then further reduced to six months for the early guilty plea, with the term suspended for 12 months. The court also ordered 80 hours of unpaid work and £150 in costs. British Airways has been approached for comment.

The proceedings underscored the impact of the incident on the crew and on flight safety responsibilities. Pentecost had been expected to perform safety duties on a long-haul service, and his colleagues had to improvise to ensure the flight's safe completion. The case casts a spotlight on the potential risks posed by crew members who report to work under the influence, and on the legal framework surrounding impairment in aviation contexts.