United Airlines' pilot was pulled out of a flight (UA 949) shortly before takeoff at London Heathrow Airport as one of his co-workers suspected him of being drunk. The flight was about to take off for Chicago when the 51-year old pilot was taken off, taken the breathalyzer test and arrested. The flight had 124 passengers and 11 crew members.

Scotland Yard said the 51-year-old was arrested after officers were called aboard United Airlines Flight 949, due to fly from London's Heathrow Airport to Chicago, around noon on Monday. A spokesman for the police force said officers arrested the man "on suspicion of being aviation staff whilst exceeding the prescribed alcohol limit."

"I.e. he was suspected to be drunk," the spokesman said, speaking on condition of anonymity in line with force policy.

Source: www.google.com

The name of the pilot has not been released. United Airlines has removed the pilot from service and the spokesman claimed that the airlines have one of the strictest alcohol policy.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: "At 12.30pm on 9 November we attended a flight at Heathrow Airport and arrested a 51-year-old man.

"He was arrested on suspicion of being aviation staff performing an aviation function while exceeding the prescribed alcohol limit."

Police are awaiting the outcome of further tests on the man.

"He was reported to police by United Airlines staff, said a BAA Heathrow spokesman.

A United Airlines spokeswoman said: "Safety is our highest priority and the pilot has been removed from service while we are cooperating with authorities and conducting a full investigation.

"United Airlines' alcohol policy is amongst the strictest in the industry and we have no tolerance for violation of this well-established policy."

Source: news.bbc.co.uk

The flight was canceled and the 124 passengers were put on other flights.

I wonder if there are other instances of pilots having a one too many?

Monday's incident bears a strong resemblance to the arrest in May at Heathrow of an American Airlines pilot — also scheduled to fly a plane to Chicago — after he failed a breath test. Airport security staff had alerted airport police about the pilot.

In January, Southwest Airlines put a pilot on leave after passengers at a security checkpoint in Columbus, Ohio, told authorities that he smelled of alcohol. The pilot ran into a restroom and changed out of his uniform jacket and called in sick.

Source: www.google.com

What would be the punishment for such a crime - for endangering the lives of 130+ people on board?