An airline pilot was discovered to be six times above the legal drinking limit and received a one-year sentence with probation.
After failing an alcohol breathalyser test, the 63-year-old United Airlines pilot was removed off a Boeing 777 by French authorities and brought into jail.
Police claimed the American pilot had a “pasty mouth, glassy eyes, and difficulty expressing himself” when they discovered him.
His blood alcohol content was 0.59 mg/l and 0.56 mg/l, which is six times the French limit for flight crew.
He was scheduled to be the pilot of flight UA331 to Washington, DC, but was detained moments before takeoff.
It was necessary to abruptly cancel the flight.
The pilot’s allegation that he had only two glasses of wine before being arrested was disputed by the judges.
He received a €4,500 fine and a 12-month flight ban to and from France.
The safety of our passengers and employees is always our top priority, United Airlines informed PYOK.
We have a strong no-tolerance alcohol policy and demand the highest standards of all of our personnel.
“This employee was terminated from employment immediately, and we are fully cooperating with local authorities,” the company stated.