Virgin Atlantic co-pilot arrested
An Associated Press report says that police in London arrested the co-pilot of a Virgin Atlantic passenger jet on suspicion of being over the legal alcohol limit, minutes before the flight was due to take off for the US on Sunday, authorities said.
London police said officers boarded the Virgin Atlantic Airbus A340-600 as it was undergoing final checks before takeoff from Heathrow Airport to Miami and a 42-year-old crew member was arrested.
Virgin Atlantic confirmed the man was a first officer on the plane, which has a three-person flight crew and that he was released on bail but was suspended from duty pending a police investigation.
The flight, VS5, with 266 passengers on board was delayed for three and a half hours while a replacement crew was found.
Airline regulations, in accordance with transport law, recommend flight crews drink no alcohol for at least eight hours before flying.
A Report by The Mole
John Alwyn-Jones
Have your say Cancel reply
Subscribe/Login to Travel Mole Newsletter
Travel Mole Newsletter is a subscriber only travel trade news publication. If you are receiving this message, simply enter your email address to sign in or register if you are not. In order to display the B2B travel content that meets your business needs, we need to know who are and what are your business needs. ITR is free to our subscribers.

































Global tourism exceeds 1.5 billion travelers announces UN-Tourism
Qatar Airways offers reduced timetable to over 60 destinations
WTTC global tourism reached record economic impact of 11 trillion in 2025
Hands In, UATP join forces for airline multi-card payments
Overseas travelers to the United States declined by 2.5% in 2025