Police in the Scottish city of Glasgow have arrested two pilots who allegedly failed a breath test before their scheduled transatlantic flight to New Jersey.
The flight, United Airlines UA 162 to Newark, New Jersey, was about to leave Glasgow Airport on Saturday morning, but the departure was cancelled after the arrests, USA Today reported.
Police Scotland said the 61-year-old and 45-year-old pilots were detained under the Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003, which covers on-the-job intoxication and impairment for aviation.
The men were expected to appear before Paisley Sheriff Court last night, Australian time.
United Airlines said in a statement the safety of its customers and crew was “always our top priority”.
It said: “We hold all of our employees to the highest standards and have a strict, no tolerance policy for alcohol. These pilots were immediately removed from service and we are fully cooperating with local authorities.”
The limit for alcohol for pilots is less than half the limit for drivers in Scotland.
The BBC noted that in 2017, two United Airline pilots were jailed for breaching drink-fly limits – also at Glasgow Airport.
In that case, first officer Paul Grebenc, 35, was sentenced to 10 months in prison.
His colleague Carlos Roberto Licona, 45, was jailed for 15 months.
Both had been arrested while preparing to take off from Glasgow on 27 August 2016.
Written by Peter Needham
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