Air steward fired after paranoia bout

AN Aer Lingus cabin steward was fired after suffering a bout of paranoia in the middle of a transatlantic flight which he claimed was the result of inadvertently taking a cookie laced with marijuana the night before.

The Employment Appeals Tribunal (EAT) in Dublin yesterday heard that the flight attendant, Miguel Saez Sanchez, believed passengers were taking photographs of him and laughing about him during a flight between San Francisco and Dublin on March 20, 2009. He was also convinced that fleas and lice were crawling all over his face and body.

Lawyers for Aer Lingus claimed they were correct to dismiss Mr Sanchez as his actions constituted gross misconduct. Mr Sanchez, 32, a Spanish national from The Way, Dunboyne, Co Meath, is taking a case against the airline for unfair dismissal. The tribunal is to issue a written decision on its findings.

The former air steward told the EAT that he had spent a few days with friends in Los Angeles before he was due to work on the return flight between San Francisco and Dublin.

On the night before the flight, Mr Sanchez said he had eaten a cookie left on a plate in the kitchen of his friend’s house which “seemed like a normal chocolate chip biscuit.” He was told that it contained marijuana an hour later after he had complained of feeling unwell and nauseous.

He had already drunk four vodkas but he stopped drinking as soon as he discovered what was in the biscuit.

Mr Sanchez said he felt okay the following day as he travelled back to San Francisco. He insisted that he alerted cabin crew colleagues to his condition as soon as he felt unwell. Mr Sanchez admitted that he felt increasingly agitated during the flight, but stressed that passengers were unaware of the incident.

Mr Sanchez argued that Aer Lingus could have chosen to demote him rather than dismiss him.

Under cross-examination, he said he did not feel obliged to tell the senior cabin crew member that he had consumed drugs, alcohol and a slimming pill in the period before taking the flight.

Mr Sanchez said he now accepted he was unfit to fly, but rejected any suggestion that he has posed a threat to passengers.

Margaret Curran, the senior cabin crew member on board the flight, said Mr Sanchez “seemed down in himself and even tearful” before boarding the flight as he explained he was upset by a row he had with friends. She had no fears at that stage that Mr Sanchez was incapable of flying.

Shortly after take-off, however, Ms Curran instructed him to stand down after he had complained about passengers and insects crawling over his face. She recalled that at one stage during the flight Mr Sanchez walked along the aisle with his jacket and briefcase.

“He looked like he was about to leave the aircraft,” said Ms Curran.

Ms Curran said Mr Sanchez never told her that he had taken a cookie with marijuana or a slimming pill.