He is said to have had a blood alcohol level 4 times the allowable level for pilots.
A JetBlue pilot was pulled from a plane in Buffalo, New York, after allegedly exceeding four times the legal limit for pilots in a breathalyzer test, according to Helen Tedras, public relations director of the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority.
The 52-year-old pilot hit 0.17 in a breathalyzer test, police said – well above the legal limit for pilots, which is 0.04.
According to the NFTA, an official from the Transport Security Administration noticed that the pilot was drunk and the authorities took him out of the cockpit just before takeoff.
NFTA airport police detained the man, who is from Orlando, Florida, and notified federal authorities, according to Tederous. He has been released from JetBlue security and could face federal charges, she said.
The pilot denied drinking in the morning on the flight, according to a police report, but said he had drunk 7-8 drinks the night before.
Tederus said the passengers on board were aware of what was happening.
“It was right there, everything was unfolding in front of them,” she said. “It must have been very worrying.”
The flight to Ft. Lauderdale was entertained for more than four hours.
In a statement, JetBlue said that the safety of customers and crew members “is our first priority”.
“We adhere to all DOT rules and requirements regarding alcohol at all times and have a very strict internal zero tolerance policy,” the statement said. “We are aware of the incident that took place this morning in Buffalo and are cooperating fully with law enforcement. We also conduct our own internal investigation. The participating crew member has been removed from his duties. “
Experts say these incidents are rare.
“It’s so rare, but when it happens, it’s the end of your career,” said aviation analyst at ABC News and former commercial pilot John Nance. “This could not be more serious – the idea of having someone even slightly injured in the trade cockpit was all these lives behind you. And all these lives on the ground below you.