Police Say Pilot Was Over Legal Limit in the Cockpit

The Rapid City Police Department arrested the SkyWest Pilot after he reportedly failed a breathalyzer test given just before takeoff.

Police on Wednesday arrested a SkyWest pilot moments before departure from Rapid City Regional Airport (RAP). Authorities say a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screener alerted officers that aviator Russell Joseph Duszak smelled of alcohol when he arrived at the airport to pilot an early morning Delta Connection flight to Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC).

A subsequent breathalyzer test led to Duszak’s arrest on a charge of “operation of an aircraft while intoxicated.” Rapid City Police Department (RCPD) Public Information Officer Brendyn Medina confirmed to the South Dakota Public Broadcasting Radio Network (SDPB) that the 38-year-old pilot blew above the legal limit for operating an aircraft in South Dakota of .04 BAC at the time of his arrest.

“Out at the airport we have officers stationed out there and they work closely with the TSA Agents out there, the number one priority is always public safety when you talk about air travel in the airport, obviously that was preserved today,” Medina told the radio station. RCPD Chief Karl Jegeris echoed those sentiments on Twitter. “The system worked the way it is designed to ensure passengers safety was not compromised,” he wrote. “Airport Management and Airline Officials have been helpful to ensure passenger safety is a top priority.”

The system worked the way it is designed to ensure passengers safety was not compromised. #Community #Service #Integrity

— Karl Jegeris (@chiefjegeris) October 26, 2016

SkyWest officials said that a replacement pilot was dispatched and the flight arrived in SLC after about a two-hour delay. The airline confirmed the the pilot involved has been grounded indefinitely.

“SkyWest holds its employees to the highest standards of professionalism and the safety and security of our customers and people are our top priority,” SkyWest said in a statement issued to the media. “We apologize to our passengers for the delay of SkyWest flight #4574, operating as Delta Connection from Rapid City to Salt Lake City, due to a crew member issue. The crew member has been placed on administrative leave and removed from flying duties as we investigate this situation. We are cooperating fully with law enforcement’s investigation into this matter.”

[Photo: SkyWest]