Pilot arrested at Manchester Airport on suspicion of being drunk
American Airlines flight AA735 to Philadelphia was cancelled following the arrest on Thursday morning.
An American Airlines pilot has been arrested at Manchester Airport on suspicion of being drunk just minutes before he was due to operate a transatlantic flight.
Greater Manchester Police said it received a report shortly before 11am on Thursday that a pilot “may have been under the influence of alcohol”.
Officers went to the scene and a 62-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of performing an aviation function when over the prescribed limit of alcohol.
He was bailed pending further inquiries.
Flight AA735 to Philadelphia was due to take off at 11.05am but was cancelled following the arrest of the pilot, who has not been named.
“We are fully co-operating with local law enforcement and further questions should be referred to them.”
It is illegal for pilots in the UK to have more than 20mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood in their system.
The drink-drive limit in England, Wales and Northern Ireland is 80mg. In Scotland it is 50mg.
In November, a Japanese pilot was given a 10-month prison sentence for being almost 10 times over the alcohol limit while preparing to take off from Heathrow Airport.
First officer Katsutoshi Jitsukawa was caught after security noticed he smelled strongly of alcohol, seemed drunk and had “glazed eyes”.
