Aleck79 Posted October 23, 2008 Share Posted October 23, 2008 (edited) AN airline pilot was arrested in a jet’s cockpit minutes before take-off yesterday on suspicion of being DRUNK. Hundreds of stunned passengers watched police march the 44-year-old American first officer off the Boeing 777. The United Airlines flight to San Francisco was delayed at Heathrow for almost three hours while a replacement co-pilot was found. Cops swooped after a tip-off from ground staff, who suspected the airman was boozing before the 5,300-mile flight. One stunned passenger said: “We couldn’t believe what we were seeing. The pilot was frog-marched off the aircraft. “A couple of police officers stormed on to the plane as we were all sitting down and went straight for the cockpit. “We didn’t have a clue what was happening and we were kept waiting on the plane for hours. “It is horrifying to think we were apparently so close to being flown thousands of miles by somebody who could have been drinking. “It was a horrible start to our trip but if it wasn’t for the person who called the cops, our dream holiday could have become a nightmare.” The pilot was arrested at 9am on board flight 955 after failing a breathalyser. He was bailed and ordered to return to Heathrow airport police station in January. United Airlines has suspended the officer, who earns around ?40,000 a year, until the police investigation is over. A Scotland Yard spokesman said: “The crew member was arrested on suspicion of being aviation staff performing an aviation function whilst exceeding the prescribed alcohol limit.” The flight was due to leave Heathrow's Terminal One at 10.05am but was delayed until 12.53pm. The legal limit for pilots is nine microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The drink-drive limit is 35 microgrammes. If convicted, the officer would face up to two years in jail. An airline spokesman said: “United’s alcohol policy is among the strictest in the industry and we have no tolerance for abuse or violation of this well-established policy. “Safety is our No 1 priority and the pilot has been removed from service while we are cooperating with the authorities and conducting a full investigation.” In October last year a Virgin Atlantic pilot was arrested on suspicion of being drunk just minutes before his plane was due to take off. Police at Heathrow seized the 42-year-old first officer as final checks were being made on the Miami-bound flight. Six months earlier a 47-year-old Virgin pilot was hauled off a plane set to take off from London to New York in handcuffs on suspicion of being drunk. Flight crews are supposed not to drink alcohol for at least eight hours before flying. source edit: forgot the source Edited October 23, 2008 by Aleck79 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aclarke_31 Posted October 23, 2008 Share Posted October 23, 2008 I think they should start to breathalyse every pilot before take off to ensure they haven't been drinking. Its silly things like this that cause accidents and if he's silly enough to drink before flying a jet, he deserves whats coming to him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randolph Posted October 23, 2008 Share Posted October 23, 2008 i just got back from florida yesterday and bomb threats galore left and right already as we got back to a airport in new york. i guess thats long island for ya. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Panacik Posted October 23, 2008 Share Posted October 23, 2008 AN airline pilot was arrested in a jet?s cockpit minutes before take-off yesterday on suspicion of being DRUNK.Hundreds of stunned passengers watched police march the 44-year-old American first officer off the Boeing 777. The United Airlines flight to San Francisco was delayed at Heathrow for almost three hours while a replacement co-pilot was found. Cops swooped after a tip-off from ground staff, who suspected the airman was boozing before the 5,300-mile flight. One stunned passenger said: ?We couldn?t believe what we were seeing. The pilot was frog-marched off the aircraft. ?A couple of police officers stormed on to the plane as we were all sitting down and went straight for the cockpit. ?We didn?t have a clue what was happening and we were kept waiting on the plane for hours. ?It is horrifying to think we were apparently so close to being flown thousands of miles by somebody who could have been drinking. ?It was a horrible start to our trip but if it wasn?t for the person who called the cops, our dream holiday could have become a nightmare.? The pilot was arrested at 9am on board flight 955 after failing a breathalyser. He was bailed and ordered to return to Heathrow airport police station in January. United Airlines has suspended the officer, who earns around ?40,000 a year, until the police investigation is over. A Scotland Yard spokesman said: ?The crew member was arrested on suspicion of being aviation staff performing an aviation function whilst exceeding the prescribed alcohol limit.? The flight was due to leave Heathrow's Terminal One at 10.05am but was delayed until 12.53pm. The legal limit for pilots is nine microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The drink-drive limit is 35 microgrammes. If convicted, the officer would face up to two years in jail. An airline spokesman said: ?United?s alcohol policy is among the strictest in the industry and we have no tolerance for abuse or violation of this well-established policy. ?Safety is our No 1 priority and the pilot has been removed from service while we are cooperating with the authorities and conducting a full investigation.? In October last year a Virgin Atlantic pilot was arrested on suspicion of being drunk just minutes before his plane was due to take off. Police at Heathrow seized the 42-year-old first officer as final checks were being made on the Miami-bound flight. Six months earlier a 47-year-old Virgin pilot was hauled off a plane set to take off from London to New York in handcuffs on suspicion of being drunk. Flight crews are supposed not to drink alcohol for at least eight hours before flying. Not being funny mate, but... source? Also, this was in the papers early last week, so its a bit late now... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aleck79 Posted October 23, 2008 Author Share Posted October 23, 2008 Not being funny mate, but... source?Also, this was in the papers early last week, so its a bit late now... oops, knew I forgot something. updated that for ya. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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