Haden Pentecost, a 41-year-old flight attendant from Basingstoke, is facing serious legal repercussions after being found unresponsive in the lavatory of a plane en route from the United States to London. He was found most recently “naked and high on bath salts” leading to a flurry of medical intervention and legal response.
Pentecost’s troubling behavior began to unfold when he was unable to assist with pre-flight safety checks, leading the flight manager to intervene. His condition rapidly deteriorated on the flight. He presented with symptoms such as dilated pupils, increased heart rate, and increased agitation. At least one report has him sweating and babbling, raising alarm among crew and passengers, who begged the plane to turn back.
When the aircraft landed at Heathrow Airport, Pentecost barricaded himself in one of the restrooms, requiring assistance from paramedics. He started to later complain of stomach cramps and stated he needs to change his clothes. Doctors treated him like an ethical black hole. They monitored him at 20-minute intervals until they could safely move him back to the hospital.
Pentecost, of Ockendon, appeared at Uxbridge Magistrates Court on Friday. He pleaded guilty to operating an aircraft under the influence of drugs. After pleading, he was released on bail and a date for sentencing has been set at Isleworth Crown Court.
The incident raises serious concerns for future safety protocols in the aviation industry. Relevant authorities are conducting a thorough investigation into how this developed on board the aircraft. They are primarily interested in the management of crew members’ fitness for duty.