DETROIT, March 26 (UPI) — A flight from Detroit to Philadelphia was cancelled Saturday morning after the co-pilot was suspected of being drunk, according to officials.
The American Airlines co-pilot, who has not been identified, was arrested after Transportation Security Administration agents noticed erratic behavior. The co-pilot allegedly failed one alcohol breath test by Detroit Metro Airport authorities and a second after being turned over to police, WXYZ-TV reported.
Airport police were called about 20 minutes before the 7:00 a.m. flight was scheduled to take off. At least one passenger posting a photo to Twitter of the co-pilot being taken into custody on the tarmac next to the plane. While the co-pilot’s blood alcohol content was not released, an airport representative told ABC News it was over the 0.04 percent limit set by the Federal Aviation Administration.
“Safety is our highest priority and we apologize to our customers for the disruption to their travel plans,” American Airlines said in a press release, saying they were working with local law enforcement, as well as accommodating passengers stuck at the airport, many of whom were on spring break.
This is the second arrest of an American Airlines employee in the last few weeks, according to NBC News. A 23-year-old flight attendant is accused of starting a fire in a plane bathroom.
