Virgin Atlantic Flight Attendant Pulled Off Plane for Alcohol Breach

A Virgin Atlantic flight attendant was removed from duty at London Heathrow Airport after arriving intoxicated at work, with tests showing she was more than four times over the legal alcohol limit for aviation professionals. The incident occurred on June 12, 2025, just before the scheduled departure of a Virgin Atlantic service.

Kathryn Scott, 44, was involved in a car accident on her way to the airport when she crashed her Hyundai at a roundabout. After abandoning the vehicle, she was driven to the airport by a member of the public. On arrival, colleagues raised concerns and police were alerted. She was taken off the aircraft and tested, revealing a blood alcohol concentration of 91 milligrams per 100 millilitres, compared to the UK aviation limit of just 20 milligrams.

Appearing at Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court, Scott denied performing an aviation function above the legal alcohol threshold, claiming she had only consumed two glasses of wine the night before and citing a medical condition affecting her liver. She also attributed the car crash to a steering fault. Prosecutors argued her intoxication posed a serious safety risk to passengers and crew. She was granted bail and will return for trial on December 11, 2025, facing potential fines and restrictions from working in aviation.

The case follows similar alcohol violations in the industry, including a November 2024 incident when two Delta Air Lines crew members were removed from duty in Amsterdam for failing alcohol tests. Airlines worldwide maintain zero-tolerance policies, emphasizing strict compliance with international safety standards.

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Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, aviationa2z.com