UA Flight Crew Accused of Being Drunk in Cockpit in Glasgow

Police in Scotland arrested two allegedly intoxicated pilots on the flight deck of a United Airlines flight due to depart for the US.

As 141 passengers lined up to board a flight from Glasgow Airport (GLA) to Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) on Saturday evening, authorities were busy arresting the two United Airlines pilots who had been preparing to fly the plane. Police accused both aviators, aged 35 and 45 years old, of reporting for duty while under the influence.

According to a Reuters report, the pair of pilots are slated to appear in a Scottish courtroom on Monday to face charges related to allegedly attempting to fly a commercial jet airliner while drunk. The flight was reportedly delayed for nearly 10 hours while airline officials worked to dispatch a sober crew to pilot the transatlantic flight.

“We’re collaborating with the authorities and will conduct our own investigation,” United Airlines spokesperson Erin Benson told reporters. “The safety of our customers is our highest priority.” Airline officials confirmed that both of the employees were removed from duty and would have their flying privileges suspended pending the final results of that investigation.

Saturday’s incident is just the latest in a recent string of high-profile cases involving commercial pilots being removed from the cockpit just moments before attempting to fly while apparently under the influence of alcohol. Just a week earlier, a “visibly intoxicated” SriLankan Airlines pilot was escorted from the flight deck of a Frankfurt Airport (FRA) to Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB)-bound flight after reportedly failing a breathalyzer test. On Thursday, the copilot of a charter flight preparing to depart from Traverse City Cherry Capital Airport (TVC) was arrested after the captain of the flight alerted authorities that his first officer was impaired. Police say that the copilot was indeed impaired registering more than four times the legal limit on a breathalyzer test given at the scene.

[Photo: United Airlines]