Flight attendant fired after crew member took photo of her with her eyes closed

An overworked and exhausted flight attendant closed her eyes for a few moments during a quiet flight after a stressful day. She could never have imagined what those few seconds of silence would mean for her career.

The woman lost her job and livelihood just because a colleague took a photo of her while she was resting her eyes.

The American Airlines flight attendant was fired after a crew member took a photo of her with her eyes closed and sent it to her manager.

While the flight attendant’s identity was concealed in initial news reports, she has since taken to social media to give her side of the story.

During an American Airlines flight between Dallas and Fort Worth, Michelle Presnell, who was preparing for her duties, received difficult news.

“I had just found out that my mom was sick and all the flights to get her home to a doctor were overbooked,” she shared in a Facebook post. In addition, Presnell struggled with migraines and severe stress.

M Stocker | Shutterstock

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“Instead of calling, I decided to push through, especially since the flight was fairly empty,” Presnell wrote. “If I had called, this flight would have been delayed as passengers were waiting for someone to replace me as we were away from base. I put the company and passengers before myself.”

She told her colleagues about her situation and they seemed understanding and compassionate. But one of her colleagues wasn’t as supportive as she seemed.

After the onboard drink and food service, Presnell took a moment for himself and closed his eyes. Unbeknownst to her, one of her closest associates took a photo and reported her for sleeping on the job.

A few weeks after the flight, Presnell received a call from her manager to discuss a crew member’s claim, with photographic evidence, that she had slept on the job. When she found out who sent the photo, she was shocked.

“I’m still completely amazed because she was so kind and supportive and really seemed to care [care] about what I went through when my mother was sick,” Presnell admitted. “She reiterated that we all need to have each other’s backs. But then it turned out she was the one who took a photo and reported me.”

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Despite the support of union representatives, Presnell was ultimately removed from her position.

“Regardless of whether I don’t sleep, regardless of whether I have witnesses to testify that I spoke, it doesn’t matter. The appearance of sleeping is the appearance of sleeping,” wrote a devastated Presnell.

“I take responsibility and should have just called. I really thought it would be more beneficial to work through my emotional turmoil so that the day wasn’t delayed because everyone was waiting for a new crew,” she continued. “By not putting myself first and just coming home, I lost my livelihood.”

The job of a flight attendant is demanding and tiring. Irregular flight schedules, jet lag, rude passengers, frequent absences from loved ones and very little sleep – it’s a difficult situation. Add in some personal stressors, and it’s no wonder this flight attendant needed to rest her eyes and block out the rest of the world for a few moments.

Kostiantyn Voitenko | Shutterstock

“We all know firsthand how difficult this job is, and unfortunately the company does not take into account that we are human,” Presnell wrote. “Like I said [American Airlines]I understand disciplinary action, but I don’t deserve to lose my job. And no matter how hard the union fought, the decision rested with a manager and HR.”

While it would be concerning to see a flight attendant sleeping on the beverage cart while providing in-flight services, it should not be as concerning to see her closing her eyes for a few moments while not actively assisting passengers. It’s nothing like taking a moment to step back and collect yourself when work becomes overwhelming.

Flight attendants spend most of their time ensuring our safety, handing out food and drinks, and bringing us pillows and blankets. We can at least show them some decency, whether you are their colleague or a passenger.

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Megan Quinn is a writer at YourTango covering entertainment and news, self, love and relationships.