A Virgin Atlantic co-pilot has been arrested at Heathrow Airport on suspicion of being over the legal alcohol limit, police have said.
The 42-year-old first officer was held after police boarded the passenger jet on Sunday morning, as final checks were being carried out before take-off.
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Wonder if they will bring the breath test in for pilots...just found this interesting snip on PPrune
A KLM Boeing 737 has been stopped by airport police on its way to the take-off runway. A member of the cabin crew had called (Dutch emergency number) 112 to report alcohol abuse by the pilots. However, the pilots were found to be 100% alcohol-free. The pilots decided to return to the gate as they had no confidence in the cabin crew and didn't feel like continuing the journey. The entire crew was changed and the purser of the flight is sick at home.
Back in April, ATI reported that blood tests on a pilot detained at London Heathrow in March were negative, resulting in his being cleared of suspicion of breaching alcohol regulations.
Effective from April, the move ATI suggested, This move may well have something to do with the fact that one of its pilots was convicted after being stopped, while under the influence, at LHR before operating a service to Dubai.
And there's more
Do you think this guy should also be banned from flying??????
A pilot caught drink-driving just ten hours before he was due to operate a flight from Luton Airport has been allowed to carry on flying passenger planes even though his driving licence was taken away, The Mail on Sunday has reported.
James Warrick was driving erratically when he was stopped by police just before 3 am near Luton airport - from where he was due to fly an easyJet aircraft just ten hours later. The 25-year-old was breathalysed and found to be over the limit. He was arrested and pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol at Luton Magistrates Court. He was banned from driving for a year, fined £100 and ordered to pay £60 costs.
Police contacted the airline and ordered them not to allow him to fly the same day, but he has been flying on commercial flights ever since. The Civil Aviation Authority, which awards and withdraws pilots' licences, was contacted by easyJet and spoke to Mr. Warrick about his conduct. But officials decided not to suspend or cancel his licence.
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