An airline pilot has been arrested on suspicion of being above the alcohol limit on board a plane due to fly to New York, police have confirmed.
After he was breathalysed, passengers on Saturday’s Virgin Atlantic flight from Heathrow were delayed for an hour.
The 47-year-old was arrested under the Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003 and later bailed to a date in May, police said.
A Virgin Atlantic statement insisted safety was the firm’s “top priority”.
It found another pilot to fly to JFK airport in New York.
The aircraft was at the terminal gate when the incident occurred.
A Scotland Yard spokeswoman said: “At 8.59am yesterday morning, March 31, officers at Heathrow Airport arrested a 47-year-old male pilot onboard a Virgin Atlantic flight en route to JFK.”
The act he was detained under makes being over the limit illegal while “performing an aviation function”.
Pilots, navigators, flight engineers and cabin crew are subject to a limit of just nine microgrammes of alcohol in breath, compared with 35 microgrammes for motorists.
Inconvenience
The Virgin Atlantic statement read: “The pilot was due to operate a flight from Heathrow.
“Virgin Atlantic provided a replacement for the flight which departed just over an hour later than scheduled from Heathrow.
“Virgin Atlantic would like to apologise for the inconvenience caused and would like to reassure passengers that the airline will be investigating this matter thoroughly in accordance with its strict company policies in relation to operational staff.
“The safety and security of its passengers and crew is Virgin Atlantic’s top priority.”
By: Ren Frew - 7th April 2007 at 22:48
Excellent news just taken from the BBC website
“A pilot arrested on suspicion of being over the alcohol limit has been cleared after tests ,samples taken from the 47-year-old prove his blood-alcohol level was consistent with a non-drinker.”
I trust some the “experts” on this forum will consider more carefully in the future the contents of their posts.Just imagine the misery this pilot has been through because of the maligned intent of security personnel.
Good news, I “trust” some of the “experts” within the aviation related security personnel occupations may think twice before hanging another career upon their pin boards… ? 😉
By: PMN - 7th April 2007 at 18:15
Come on the guy has been arrested…..lets wait and see what he gets charged with and what the outcome is.
My point wasn’t actually aimed at this case specifically, nor did I imply (or should I say intend to imply) it was. I simply meant to highlight the fact that intelligence and common sense do not necessarily go hand in hand. I know plenty of highly intelligent but utterly stupid people! My apologies if I came across as though I was assuming the pilot was guilty. That was in no way my intention.
Great news he’s been cleared! 🙂
Paul
By: Stampe - 7th April 2007 at 17:35
Excellent news just taken from the BBC website
“A pilot arrested on suspicion of being over the alcohol limit has been cleared after tests ,samples taken from the 47-year-old prove his blood-alcohol level was consistent with a non-drinker.”
I trust some the “experts” on this forum will consider more carefully in the future the contents of their posts.Just imagine the misery this pilot has been through because of the maligned intent of security personnel.
By: bexWH773 - 2nd April 2007 at 21:05
Stampe,
Having reread my post, it seems the impression can be given that I assume his guilt, I did not mean for this impression. However, I quite agree with you 100% that fatigue is more important, and would you believe that when the law about drugs & alcohol was brought in for us (us being rail, shipping& aircraft) that the idiots in charge wanted the limit to be ZERO, until doctors pointed out that the body naturally produces alcohol. As for fatigued crews, this seems to be no problem whatso ever and I for one, having been there crawling under thousands of tonnes of train think this is totally immoral. So STampe you hit the nail squarely on the head.
I just hope that the National Press leave this guy (and family) alone until his case has been heard.
Bex
By: OneLeft - 2nd April 2007 at 20:35
“Innocent until proven guilty” is the law of the land.The last pilot charged with this offence was found not guilty.It is also possible to be at or near the very low level of alcohol of this draconian law through naturally occuring residual alcohol from certain types of diet.Bear in mind that the degraded performance of an airline pilot legally working up to fourteen hours of night duty can easily be at the level of equivalence of having three pints of beer.I,d be far more concerned at flying with a fatigued pilot which happens regularly in the industry than someone with a quarter of the drink drive limit of alcohol.The authorities are of course completely unconcerned about fatigued pilots…it would cost money and put your fares up can,t have that can we…thats a real safety concern.
Now there speaks the truth. 100% agree Stampe.
1L.
By: eastern wiseguy - 2nd April 2007 at 18:06
They are, but unfortunately intelligence has nothing whatsoever to do with stupidity!
Paul
Come on the guy has been arrested…..lets wait and see what he gets charged with and what the outcome is.
By: andrewm - 2nd April 2007 at 16:03
Maybe confirmation of details from someone closer to this incident than us (wysiwyg?) would help thing clarity wise.
We all know what types of things the media outlets say to make seems more interesting. Im sure “The Sun” today reported he was on the runway about to take off when the police “swooped” on the “full” pilot who was about to hand fly the jumo to New York….
By: Stampe - 2nd April 2007 at 12:37
“Innocent until proven guilty” is the law of the land.The last pilot charged with this offence was found not guilty.It is also possible to be at or near the very low level of alcohol of this draconian law through naturally occuring residual alcohol from certain types of diet.Bear in mind that the degraded performance of an airline pilot legally working up to fourteen hours of night duty can easily be at the level of equivalence of having three pints of beer.I,d be far more concerned at flying with a fatigued pilot which happens regularly in the industry than someone with a quarter of the drink drive limit of alcohol.The authorities are of course completely unconcerned about fatigued pilots…it would cost money and put your fares up can,t have that can we…thats a real safety concern.
By: bexWH773 - 2nd April 2007 at 12:12
If 9 microgrammes is the limit then why bother drinking in the 1st place? It really can’t be worth putting your career on the line for that amount o’ bevvy ?
Ren, we had exactly the same limit on the railways, for all operational staff, and youre right, why blow your job for what would equate to no more than one drink? Its downright stupidity that this guy planned to fly and if he is over the limit then I hope he is fired, he knew the rules he blew it.
Bex
By: Ren Frew - 2nd April 2007 at 10:32
If 9 microgrammes is the limit then why bother drinking in the 1st place? It really can’t be worth putting your career on the line for that amount o’ bevvy ?
By: Bmused55 - 2nd April 2007 at 09:45
Intelligence also does not make up for a lack of common sense.
By: PMN - 2nd April 2007 at 09:17
It’s getting to be a common occurence of late, i thought commercial pilots were intelligent people
They are, but unfortunately intelligence has nothing whatsoever to do with stupidity!
Paul
By: steve rowell - 2nd April 2007 at 05:22
It’s getting to be a common occurence of late, i thought commercial pilots were intelligent people
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April 2, 2007 at 4:25 am