‘Drunk’ pilots arrested preparing to fly to US

Two United Airlines pilots have been charged with being under the influence of alcohol before they were due to fly a passenger jet from Glasgow to Newark in the US.

Two United Airlines pilots were arrested on suspicion of being under the influence of alcohol

Pilots Paul Brady, 35, and Roberto Licona, 45, were arrested after the alleged incident, before their 9am flight on Saturday 27 August, reports The Scotsman.

The flight took off later that day with 141 passengers and a new crew on board.

Both men appeared at Paisley Sherriff Court on Monday, where they were charged under section 93 of the Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003.

The Act states: “A person commits an offence if he performs an aviation function at a time when the proportion of alcohol in his breath, blood or urine exceeds the prescribed limit, or he carries out an activity which is ancillary to an aviation function at a time when the proportion of alcohol in his breath, blood or urine exceeds the prescribed limit.’’

The alcohol limit for pilots is nine micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, compared with a drink drive limit of 22 micrograms in Scotland and 35 in England.

Neither of the American pilots entered a plea or made comment. They were released on bail, with a further court date to be set.

United said the pilots had been suspended pending an investigation, and that safety is its “highest priority”.

Earlier this month, leisure airline Jet2.com announced it will ban the sale of alcohol on-board flights before 8am.