20/10/2008

'Drunk' Pilot Arrested At Heathrow

A pilot has been arrested on a passenger jet on suspicion of being drunk at work.

The 44-year-old first officer for United Airlines was arrested following a breath test as the plane waited at Terminal One of Heathrow Airport on Sunday morning, according to The Sun.

Police confirmed they boarded a United Airlines flight that was due to fly from London to San Francisco at 9am yesterday, and arrested a 44-year-old man as the aircraft prepared for take-off.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: "The man arrested is bailed to return to Heathrow police station on January 16 pending further inquiries."

He was held on suspicion of "performing an aviation function whilst exceeding the alcohol limit" and was "removed from duty", police added.

A United Airlines statement said: "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.

"Safety is our number one priority and the pilot has been removed from service while we are co-operating with authorities and conducting a full investigation."

The legal limit for pilots is nine micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath - more than three times stricter than the drink-drive limit, which is 35 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath.

(JM)

Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

01 August 2013
Teenager Arrested Over Rape Of 12-Year-Old Girl
A 17-year-old boy has been arrested in connection with the rape of 12-year-old girl in east London. Three males lead the girl to a "secluded" end of a street in Walthamstow at around 00:15 on Saturday before two of them attacked her, held her down and raped her.
14 February 2014
No Further Action To Be Taken Accused Footballer
Rape allegations made against Newcastle United footballer Loic Remy, have been dropped. Police say that no further action will be taken against the 27-year-old. Remy was arrested last May along with two other men following allegations that a woman had been attacked in west London.
11 November 2009
Heathrow Pilot Faces 'Drunk' Charge
A pilot who was arrested at Heathrow Airport on suspicion of being drunk has been charged, the Metropolitan Police have confirmed. United Airlines pilot Erwin Washington, 51, was arrested as the Chicago-bound flight, which had 124 passengers and 11 crew members on board, was preparing to depart, shortly after mid-day yesterday.
26 May 2003
Football hooligan clashes in Bristol were 'orchestrated'
Police in Bristol have said that clashes between rival football fans in the city centre yesterday had been orchestrated by hooligan groups.
27 February 2014
11 Arrested After Two People Jump From Stena Ferry
An investigation into two people missing from a ferry has led to the arrest of 11 people in the Netherlands. The Stena Britannica, sailing from Harwich to the Hook of Holland, reported on Thursday morning that two passengers were missing, and were thought to have jumped overboard.