The steward has been sacked since the video emerged.
A Ryanair steward has been arrested after being caught drinking on camera, while in the air.
The incident occurred on a flight between Rzeszow in Poland and Stansted in London last Wednesday (18 May).
In the video, the steward can be seen hiding in the back of the plane along with a passenger who covertly recorded the encounter, peeking down the aisle before downing a small bottle of wine.
The steward is later handed a small bottle of vodka by the passenger, telling them to “not make it obvious”.
“I asked for a drink and when he came over he said to me, ‘Shush, don’t tell anyone but I will have one, too’,” the passenger told The Sun.
“Then he started necking a shot of whiskey. He also had a 187ml bottle of rosé.
“He sounded drunk and looked like he had been drinking for longer than just on the flight.
“I asked to speak to the captain and he was furious.”
Essex Police said the steward “will appear at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday (8 June) to answer a charge of performing an aviation function, namely a member of cabin of an aircraft during flight, when their ability to do so was impaired because of drink.”
Police confirmed the incident occurred at Stansted airport and that “the charge is contrary to sections 92 (1) (a) and 95 of the Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003.”
In a statement to JOE, a Ryanair spokesperson said:
“Lauda Europe policy, in line with European Aviation Safety Agency regulation, prohibits the consumption of alcohol by cabin or flight crew from 8 hours prior to a flight duty until after the duty is complete.
“Lauda Europe has investigated a reported individual cabin crew breach of this strict policy on a flight from Rzeszow to Stansted (18 May). The cabin crew member in question no longer operates for Lauda Europe.”
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