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An American Airlines co-pilot was arrested Saturday, March 26, for arriving for a flight to Philadelphia while allegedly under the influence of alcohol. A passenger took this picture from the window of the airplane.
(Courtesy of Kristyn Bradley)
ROMULUS, MI - American Airlines has released a statement in response to questions about a pilot arrested Saturday morning at Detroit Metropolitan Airport on suspicion of attempting to co-pilot a plane while intoxicated.
"This is a serious matter and we are assisting local law enforcement and the Federal Aviation Administration with the investigation. We will handle this matter appropriately as the safety and care of our customers and employees is our highest priority," the statement reads.
The airline cancelled its Flight 736, which was scheduled to leave at 6:55 a.m. for Philadelphia. Its customers are being reaccomodated on other flights, said airline spokeswoman Laura Nedbal.
"We apologize to our customers for the disruption to their travel plans."
Out of respect for the employee's privacy, further details are not being released, according to the airline.
The co-pilot, in his early 50s and from Pennsylvania, exhibited behavior during crew checks that prompted the Transportation Security Administration to suspect he had been drinking, said Michael Conway, airport public affairs director.
Airport police, contacted by TSA personnel about 6:40 a.m. March 26, responded and administered a field Breathalyzer, which the employee failed, Conway said. He was then taken to a "local jurisdiction" with a more sophisticated testing mechanism and also failed that test, Conway said.
He had allegedly intended to co-pilot the plane with an alcohol level beyond the legal limit, Conway said. He would not release the man's alcohol level or name. The investigation is ongoing and police are still developing evidence, he said.
The Federal Aviation Administration prohibits anyone from operating or attempting to operate an aircraft with a blood alcohol content of 0.04 percent or greater.
An Administration spokesman, Tony Molinaro, said in an email the agency is investigating a report that the co-pilot was detained at a security checkpoint at the airport after allegedly testing above the legal limit. He did not provide further information.
Everyone was shuffled off the plane because of what was said to be a problem with the co-pilot chair, said one passenger, Kristyn Bradley of Grosse Pointe Woods, who was headed to the Dominican Republic for spring break. "It was quite chaotic," she said.
She is glad to be safe and grateful the co-pilot was not allowed to fly. It is concerning he had the mindset it would be OK to go to work in such a condition, she said. "It's pretty scary."