Pilot arrested at Bristol Airport after failing breath test
21.01.12
An Aer Arann pilot was arrested at Bristol Airport on Thursday night minutes before take-off after airport staff contacted police over concerns about the man's fitness to fly. A police spokesman said the pilot failed a breath test and was arrested. The pilot was taken to a police station, where he passed a second test. He was therefore released with no further action being taken.
A spokesman for Aer Arann, which was operating the flight on behalf of Aer Lingus, said: ‘We are taking this matter extremely seriously and a thorough investigation has already started. There are checks and systems in place and this particular pilot did not board or fly the aircraft.’
The airline had to find another pilot and crew to fly the ATR72 plane to Cork, Ireland. The 24 passengers were told the delay was due to a ‘technical problem’.
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