A JET pilot suspected of being boozed up was arrested on the RUNWAY yesterday.
Cops swooped on the captain moments before he was due to take off with more than 100 holidaymakers on board.
The 50-year-old was breathalysed, handcuffed and taken away in a police van.
And his passengers, bound from Manchester Airport to Dalaman in Turkey, faced a six-hour delay until a replacement was found.
The drama unfolded at 7.20am after all the luggage had been loaded on to a Finnair Boeing 757-200.
One passenger said: “We were ready to go and then police arrived on the tarmac.
“I was told the captain had suffered a bereavement but then word went round he had been bagged for being drunk. If he was over the limit it might have been catastrophic.”
Greater Manchester Police said the Finn had been granted bail until October.
Finnair said the pilot, who had a “totally clean” record, had been suspended and would be dismissed instantly if found guilty.
Source – TheSun.co.uk
By: purser - 25th August 2004 at 10:53
Andrew, I said the real facts. The Daily Mail!!!!
By: steve rowell - 25th August 2004 at 02:08
Disgraceful
By: andrewm - 25th August 2004 at 00:22
It would interesting to know the real facts.
Do you not read the Daily Mail?
By: purser - 24th August 2004 at 13:27
Usual total rubbish from the media, he couldn’t have been on the runway, more like he was on the ramp/apron, possibly doing a walk around (or stagger if the story is true) prior to departure.
Usual negative sensationalism that always surrounds anything like this to do with aviation. It would interesting to know the real facts.
By: topjet330 - 24th August 2004 at 12:56
i dont think he was anywere near the runway, they say “he was arrested on the runway” at the time they say “The police pulled up at the gate”
By: ZB057 - 24th August 2004 at 12:39
see that is so much better, how can somebody be arrested on the RUNWAY!
By: andrewm - 24th August 2004 at 12:38
A Finnish pilot has been arrested at Manchester airport on suspicion of being over the alcohol limit.
The 50-year-old was due to fly a Boeing 757 carrying British passengers to Dalaman, in western Turkey.
The plane, scheduled to take off at 0800 GMT, was grounded for almost six hours before taking off at 1350 GMT after another pilot had been found.
A police spokesman said the man had been released on police bail and was due to reappear on 26 October.
A spokesman for Finnair said the company operates a zero tolerance policy and the pilot is suspected of alcohol misuse.
He was taken for a blood test but it may be weeks before the results are known.
By: ZB057 - 24th August 2004 at 12:37
Dont likt the wording of the report thought
By: skycruiser - 24th August 2004 at 12:36
Ahhh, the good old SUN. Must be true!!!!!
By: ZB057 - 24th August 2004 at 12:36
What is happening with SCY at the moment. A lack of planes looming and now a drunk pilot what are they doing? Lets ope they sort themselves out soon.
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August 24, 2004 at 12:09 pm