US Airways Plane Stopped at LAX, pilot suspected drunk.

[VenaCavaLAX]

NBC affiliate Channel 4 news here in L.A. was reporting live at 4pm that a US Airways pilot(s) was detained at the gate at LAX by FAA and US Airways officials because of possible alcohol related issues. They were saying that plane was coming in from PHL so I'm not clear if the pilot was detained on arrival from PHL to LAX or if they were getting ready to leave to another destination. They are showing an Airbus A321 at the gate. Caught the last 15secs of the report, has anyone heard anything else about this?

 

[eric]

LOS ANGELES -- A US Airways flight to Philadelphia was delayed Friday after a pilot was alleged to have been under the influence of alcohol, an airline spokesman said.

Los Angeles International Airport police detained the pilot before he boarded the plane, and conducted a test that determined he was not legally intoxicated, airline spokesman Phil Gee said. The pilot was released and will not face any legal charges, Gee said.

See story

 

[robbedagain]

but if he wasnt drunk, and lets say he wasnt by usair's standard, could he actually sue for damages and lost wages?

 

[BoeingBoy]

"4.3.2 Drugs & Alcohol.
Consumption. Do not consume alcohol within 12 hours prior to scheduled report time. A pilot will be subject to termination if he
— reports for duty, and /or operates or intends to operate a US Airways aircraft while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
— uses or possesses any illegal drug.
— knowingly permits another crewmember to perform flight duty while under the influence of drugs or alcohol."

Could be a bad situation. Hopefully, everything will be ok for everyone involved.

Jim

 

[ab320driver]

but if he wasnt drunk, and lets say he wasnt by usair's standard, could he actually sue for damages and lost wages?

As far as pay goes, this pilot will not miss a dime. The trip is pay protected. I certainly don't know about defamation, however. This pilot most likely had no alcohol in him or her (the standard is VERY tight- .04). I'm guessing this turned into quite a drama for this poor pilot and the crew. We've all heard the smarta@@es out there who have jokingly said they saw the pilots in the bar before a flight.
If this is some joker spewing trash, I certainly hope US Air backs this pilot up 100%, and provides representation. NO ONE should have to put up with that...

 

[fatherabraham]

All,

My nosey research says flt left 4hours and 4 min. late. My crystall ball says we will hear more about this one. All same crew minus a left seat driver. Would be wrong to speculate or name individual.

FA

 

[phllax]

In LA, it was the lead story on the11pm news for the CBS & NBC affiliates, #2 for the ABC and the 5th or 6th for the KTLA-WB 10pm news. The flight left at 5:45 and the takeoff was carried live from 25L by a news chopper. NBC reported that his BAL was .03

 

[Sally4th]

There seems to be some question about the blood alcohol level. If you drink heavily more than 12 hours before a flight I wonder if it is still possible to have these levels?

Pilot at LAX Grounded by Alcohol
A US Airways flight is delayed for four hours after a passenger reports smelling liquor on the officer's breath. Tests show he had alcohol in his blood.
By Jill Leovy and Jennifer Oldham, Times Staff Writers
April 8, 2006


A US Airways pilot was detained at Los Angeles International Airport on suspicion of being drunk before his flight Friday, and was later found to have alcohol in his blood.

The pilot, who was not identified, was scheduled to fly US Airways Flight 18 to Philadelphia, but the airline removed him from duty.


The search for a replacement pilot delayed the flight more than four hours after its scheduled 1:45 p.m. departure.

Airport security officials said a passenger smelled alcohol on the pilot's breath at the security checkpoint in Terminal One and reported it to screening officials, who summoned police.

The pilot was taken into custody for tests and failed a field sobriety test, security officials said.

At the LAX police station, a breath test was repeatedly administered to the pilot, airport officials said. They said that on the fourth test, the pilot's blood alcohol level registered 0.04%. US Airways contends that the official reading was 0.03%.

The higher level meets, but does not exceed, the legal limit allowed by the Federal Aviation Administration, US Airways spokesman Phil Gee said. The FAA's rule for pilots is half California's 0.08% blood-alcohol limit for driving.

The FAA temporarily took possession of the pilot's flight certificate, and an investigation was launched, airport security sources said. The FBI is also looking into the incident, they said.

Gee insisted that the pilot had not violated the law. He said that US Airways has stricter standards for drinking and flying than the FAA, however, and that the airline will investigate the pilot.

He declined to give specifics about US Airways' internal rules for drinking and flying, saying only that they were several times more stringent than the government's.

"Legally, the pilot still could have operated the aircraft. However, we hold employees to a higher standard, and we want to continue the investigation ourselves," Gee said.

If the pilot is found to have violated US Airways' policy, "we have absolutely no tolerance for matters like this," he added.

It remained unclear Friday how long before the flight the pilot was drinking. US Airways officials said he was stopped more than an hour before the flight. But airport officials believe that it was less than an hour before the scheduled departure. Airport police referred calls to the airline.

The issue of commercial airline pilots' drinking has come under scrutiny in recent months with a few high-profile incidents.

In February, an American Airlines pilot was arrested in Britain on suspicion of being drunk shortly before a flight to Chicago.

And last summer, two former America West pilots were convicted of operating a plane leaving Miami while drunk.

Original article here.

 

[bofie]

There seems to be some question about the blood alcohol level. If you drink heavily more than 12 hours before a flight I wonder if it is still possible to have these levels?

Yes, it is possible. If you are absolutely plastered you might have detectable alcohol 12 hours later. If the guy has a bad liver it would be even more possible.

But remember, a swig of mouthwash or cough syrup at the wrong time can fool a breathalyzer into a positive reading. If caught it is always best to insist on a blood test.

 

[tadjr]

Unless you're hooked on alchohol, why would you even chance something like this on a layover? I realize everyone may need to "relax" at times, but it just seems like the chances for something like this to happen would be so great that it wouldnt be worth that drink if there were alternatives. JMO.

 

[a320av8r]

This is America! You're guilty until proven innocent and even then we won't believe you!

 

[sharktooth]

This is America! You're guilty until proven innocent and even then we won't believe you!

So true with this company and their employees.

Basic pigs.

 

[Bob Owens]

This is America! You're guilty until proven innocent

That was the old America!

 

[Walmartgreeter]

I know nothing about this other than the initial news post...but what sucks is no matter what actually happened, the individual involved will find his or her reputation in ruin. I can only think that after having about 4 hours sleep on one of those oh so common 03:30 am wake ups, I would show up my usual red eyed and bad breath self (despite proper oral care) at security and find my self "pulled over."

Best. Greeter.

 

[smfav8r]

We've all heard the smarta@@es out there who have jokingly said they saw the pilots in the bar before a flight.
If this is some joker spewing trash, I certainly hope US Air backs this pilot up 100%, and provides representation. NO ONE should have to put up with that...

About 6 years ago I was flying the red-eye from LAX back to CLT. I got on the hotel van in LAX and some yahoo said loudly "didn't I just see you in the bar?"

People are just plan stupid!

I agree, I hope US backs this guy,