American Airlines pilot fails breathalyzer at Heathrow

American Airlines says one of its pilots failed a breathalyzer test at London’s Heathrow airport.
The Fort Worth, Texas-based airline says the pilot was given the test Wednesday after airport security staff alerted police. He was supposed to operate a flight with 204 passengers to Chicago. The flight was delayed while a replacement was found and the plane eventually took off. American declined to release the pilot’s name Thursday.

UPDATE (as of 6:59 a.m. ET, Thursday, May 21): The Press Association of Britain says the pilot was stoppped “as he was about to operate a transatlantic flight. … The 10.15am flight on Wednesday – AA87 – was delayed while a replacement pilot was found and the Boeing 777 eventually took off at 11.30 am.”

The Sun of London also reports on the incident, and reveals the pilots name. The paper adds the 57-year-old pilot “was allegedly four times the limit when he was held trying to enter the cockpit of his American Airlines Boeing 777. The veteran U.S. flier, from Ohio, had been drinking the night before.”

Source:USA Today