A flight attendant on a United Express plane was charged with public intoxication after passengers complained about her behavior on the flight.
According to the South Bend Tribune, the incident occurred on a flight between Chicago and South Bend, Indiana on Aug. 2.
According to a tweet from passenger Aaron Scherb to United Airlines, the flight attendant was "slurring her speech," "couldn't walk straight" and "kept dropping things." Scherb also said she "couldn't make it through a security announcement."
"All the passengers seem to recognize it too. This is appalling," Scherb tweeted.
Scherb later told the newspaper that the flight attendant fell asleep after taking her seat. Passengers later fastened her seatbelt for her.
When the plane landed in South Bend, officers boarded and asked her where she was. The flight attendant said she was in Chicago, ABC News reported.
ABC News also reported that a breathalyzer test determined her blood alcohol level was at 0.204 — nearly three times the legal limit to drive a car, and five times over the FAA's legal limit for flight attendants.
All the passengers seem to recognize it too. This is appalling
— Aaron Scherb (@aaronscherb) August 2, 2019
The flight attendant, Julianne March, was charged with misdemeanor intoxication. She was released the next day and is due back in court in South Bend on Aug. 29.
United Airlines said the regional airline Air Wisconsin operated the flight — one of the airlines enveloped in the "United Express" brand. According to a statement by Air Wisconsin to ABC News, March is "no longer an employee of the company."
Scherb was reportedly given a $500 credit or 25,000 free air miles but told the South Bend Tribune he hasn't accepted offer. He told the newspaper that he doesn't think the offer is acceptable for putting the safety of 50 people in danger.
Alex Hider is a writer for the E.W. Scripps National Desk. Follow him on Twitter @alexhider.
