Suspected drunk United Airlines pilot arrested at Heathrow

[Phillippe M]

Suspected drunk United Airlines pilot arrested at Heathrow
From correspondents in London October 20, 2008 06:42pm

A UNITED Airlines pilot has been arrested on a plane at London's Heathrow airport on suspicion of being over the legal alcohol limit.
The airline said the 44-year-old pilot was removed from service and that said it would co-operate with police inquiries and was conducting its own investigation of the incident.

"At approximately 9am (7pm Sunday AEDT) on Sunday, officers attended an aircraft at Heathrow Terminal One and arrested a 44-year-old man,'' a spokeswoman for the Metropolitan Police said.

The spokeswoman, who declined to name the man in keeping with force policy, said he had been bailed to return to Heathrow police station on January 16.

"United's alcohol policy is among the strictest in the industry and we have no tolerance for abuse of violation of this well-established policy,'' United Airlines said.

"Safety is our No. 1 priority and the pilot has been removed from service while we are co-operating with authorities and conducting a full investigation.''

According to The Sun newspaper, the man was a first officer and was due to fly to San Francisco before he was arrested.

The legal limit of alcohol for pilots is 9mcg per 100ml of breath, compared to the British drink-drive limit, which is 35mcg per 100ml of breath.

http://www.news.com.au/travel/story/...014090,00.html