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TWO PILOTS HAVE been arrested in Scotland on suspicion of being under the influence of alcohol as they prepared to fly a passenger plane to the United States.
The two men were detained at Glasgow Airport yesterday before they were due to fly to Newark in New Jersey.
Concerns were reportedly raised over the pair ahead of the 8am UA162 flight. The service, carrying 141 passengers, eventually flew with a new crew later yesterday.
“Two men aged 35 and 45 have been arrested and are presently detained in police custody in connection with alleged offences under the Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003, Section 93,” a Police Scotland spokesman said today.
The section relates to “carrying out pilot function or activity while exceeding the prescribed limit of alcohol.”
Removed from duty
In a statement, a United Airlines spokesperson said: “The two pilots have been removed from service and their flying duties.
We are co-operating with the authorities and will conduct our own investigation as well. The safety of our customers and crew is our highest priority.
The men are expected to appear at Paisley Sheriff Court on the edge of Glasgow tomorrow.
The arrests come after two Canadian pilots were charged with being drunk as they prepared to fly from Glasgow to Toronto last month.
Jean-Francois Perreault, 39, and Imran Zafar Syed, 37, were arrested on July 18 as they were due to pilot an Airbus A310 plane, which carries up to 250 passengers, for Canada’s Air Transat.
Perreault, from Ontario, and Syed, from Toronto, are charged under laws covering alcohol and drug limits in aviation.
They also face charges of threatening or abusive behaviour. The pilots have been released from custody on bail last month.
- © AFP 2016.
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Sounds like plot of a denzel Washington film I saw once.
Snakes on a plane?
Jarred on a plane
Flight, great film.
Nah, that’s not it. I think he’s talking about Man On Fire
Did this not happen a few weeks ago (too)
It did. These are not infrequent occurrences but are generally not reported unless drawn to the attention of the media.,
Hangovers are a real concern. Alcohol has been metabolised but the plots can be at less than their optimum.
It did. These are not infrequent occurrences but are generally not reported unless drawn to the attention of the media.,
Hangovers are a real concern. Alcohol has been metabolised but the pilots can be at less than their optimum.
*pilots would have sufficed
Good one del
Wonder if they were staying at the same hotel as those arrested off the Air Transit flight a while back…
“Air of the dog”
Probably a couple of stiffeners to cure the pre flight nerves.
Under the influence.. More like above the influence..
Isn’t that what Auto pilot is for so they can sober up
Only in Scotland.
It’s the ones who are not discovered who you have to worry about!
I’d say if you were out on the beer the night before you would never hit your drink fly limit………
Carlsberg don’t do pilots but if they did.
Super Tennents
A pilot commented after German suicide crash that ‘you don’t know who you are piloting with these days’. Is there not compulsory substance testing?
Pilots are not allowed to fly after a few scoops? News to me. I thought it was routine.
Up, up and away. Flying high.
have your say