A pilot failed an alcohol test and was arrested and suspended from his job. The incident took place on Fri., Jan. 4, 2013 when the 48-year-old American Eagle pilot was observed to have the odor of alcohol emanating from him prior to 6 a.m. A Transportation Security Administration agent and officers smelled the odor when they walked past the pilot, according to a Yahoo! News report.
Officers boarded the airplane where the pilot was conducting pre-flight procedures and administered a breath-alcohol test, which he reportedly failed. He was arrested and subsequently given a blood-alcohol test, the results of which have not yet been released. Police will decide whether to file charges against him pending the results of that test.
The pilot failed the alcohol test prior to flying a flight from Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport to New York City's LaGuardia Airport. Fortunately, the passengers had not yet boarded the flight. According to FAA guidelines, pilots may not operate an aircraft within eight hours of imbibing alcoholic beverages or with a blood-alcohol level of 0.04 or more. In contrast, motorists may not operate vehicles on the ground with a 0.08 blood-alcohol level or higher. Neither the pilot's name nor his blood-alcohol level has been released publicly.
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