22 October 2008

Allegedy "Drunk" United Airlines Pilot Arrested Before Takeoff

A United Airlines pilot was arrested in a jetÃ¢â¬â¢s cockpit minutes before take-off from London's Heathrow aiport Sunday on suspicion of being drunk.

Hundreds of stunned passengers watched police march the 44-year-old American first officer off the Boeing 777, with the United Airlines flight to San Francisco delayed at Heathrow for almost three hours while a replacement co-pilot was found.

Police swooped after a tip-off from ground staff, who suspected the airman was boozing before the 5,300-mile flight.

One stunned passenger said: Ã¢â¬ÅâœWe couldnÃ¢â¬â¢t believe what we were seeing." "The pilot was frog-marched off the aircraft.

Ã¢â¬ÅâœA couple of police officers stormed on to the plane as we were all sitting down and went straight for the cockpit."

Ã¢â¬ÅâœWe didnÃ¢â¬â¢t have a clue what was happening and we were kept waiting on the plane for hours."

Ã¢â¬ÅâœIt is horrifying to think we were apparently so close to being flown thousands of miles by somebody who could have been drinking."

Ã¢â¬ÅâœIt was a horrible start to our trip but if it wasnÃ¢â¬â¢t for the person who called the cops, our dream holiday could have become a nightmare.Ã¢â¬~

The pilot was arrested at 9am on board flight 955 after failing a breathalyser.

He was bailed and ordered to return to Heathrow airport police station in January.

The legal limit for pilots is nine micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath.

The drink-drive limit is 35 micrograms.

If convicted, the officer would face up to two years in jail.

A Report by The Mole