Air steward suffered bout of paranoia during flight

AN Aer Lingus cabin steward has lost his claim for unfair dismissal after suffering a bout of paranoia in the middle of a transatlantic flight he claimed was the result of inadvertently consuming a cannabis-laced cookie.

The Employment Appeals Tribunal agreed with claims by lawyers for Aer Lingus that the actions of Miguel Saez Sanchez, who is originally from Spain, amounted to gross misconduct.

An EAT hearing last April heard that Mr Sanchez, aged 32, of Avondale Square, Dunboyne, Co Meath, had suffered hallucinations during the flight, believing passengers were taking photographs of him and laughing about him, while also convinced fleas and lice were crawling all over his face and body.