AirTran pilot suspected of drinking, arrested
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — An AirTran pilot suspected of drinking was arrested and removed from a flight at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.
AirTran says the captain was removed from the airplane and replaced with another pilot before the flight to Milwaukee Saturday. Airport spokesman Pat Hogan says a TSA manager smelled alcohol on the captain and called airport police. They gave the pilot a Breathalyzer test and found the captain's blood alcohol level at .05 percent — above the limit of .04 percent for commercial pilots.
KARE-TV says the captain was eventually released. AirTran says the captain won't be flying while the incident is investigated. The flight to Milwaukee was delayed by about 35 minutes.
May 16, 2011 at 10:31 p.m.
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freebird007, you mean it's Bushmills' and Johnny Walker's fault, don't you?
dtb, "I want to die peacefully, like a pilot - sleeping off a drunken stupor; not screaming and banging futilely on the cockpit door like his passengers."
May 16, 2011 at 8:22 p.m.
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Thanks!
May 16, 2011 at 8:05 p.m.
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Winterstinks ! I just quit before my comment would have been removed. I will let yours be the first !
May 16, 2011 at 7:46 p.m.
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Maybe the guy who reported him in Minneapolis is an azz hole. People in Minn. aren't the friendliest.
May 16, 2011 at 7:43 p.m.
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UMM We just landed in Japan. Where were you'all going? Milwaukee? Sorry, hiccup.
May 16, 2011 at 5:18 p.m.
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Thhhhiz izzz yurrr plilot shpeeking.Vee r cruzzin at aboot tirty towsand feets now.
May 16, 2011 at 3:36 p.m.
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The last time I flew Air Tran they would not even give passengers a glass of water before take off.
May 16, 2011 at 2:53 p.m.
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unless they changed things, driving semis, bus etc that takes a CDL - they allow .04, but of course they prefer zero espically when driving semi, etc - they can lose their driving privliges even driving in a car - so it makes sense the same for pilots because of the greater chance of injury, death, property damage to more people or property when pilot or semi drivers if they have been drinking
May 16, 2011 at 2:39 p.m.
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It's considered "drunk" in the Federal Aviation Administration way.
May 16, 2011 at 2:02 p.m.
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Does anyone think that you're not even slightly impaired at .05? Who wants a pilot flying a plane when they're not at thier best and most alert? It's not like driving a car - when a plane goes down, EVERYONE DIES.
May 16, 2011 at 12:07 p.m.
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916WI - it's considered over the limit to fly of .04 BAC as listed in the article.
May 16, 2011 at 11:55 a.m.
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This is Bush's and Walkers fault!!!!!!!
May 16, 2011 at 10:30 a.m.
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Blind? No... I'm thinkin' it's due to monetary gain. No controversy means less traffic on the server, thus lowering rates; advertisers don't want their ads to be associated with said controversy... Money is ALWAYS a motivator.
May 16, 2011 at 9:31 a.m.
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lotha.....In what way is a .05 BAC considered "drunk"?
May 16, 2011 at 9:15 a.m.
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its funny you can comment on this article but the one where they are stepping on the throats of americans rights is shut down. even the editor is blind to the cancer on our society
May 16, 2011 at 8:45 a.m.
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SWEEET! Wisconsin will remain the nummber one drinking state when we have pilots flying here already drunk :)
May 16, 2011 at 8:37 a.m.
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Shouldn't it be "zero"??
May 16, 2011 at 8:30 a.m.
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Nice advertising timing. Above the comments area it was showing me:
Drunk Driving Defense? Attorney Steve Mays can help!
Call 866-257-0440 www.MaysLaw.net/Drunk-Driving
May 16, 2011 at 8 a.m.
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cough medicine can put you above .05!
May 16, 2011 at 7:57 a.m.
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Inexplicable, even.
May 16, 2011 at 7:56 a.m.
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Two things: A) Pretty low tolerance for pilots... they signed up for it when they got the job. B) The Staff is allowing comments on this one. Weird...
May 16, 2011 at 7:37 a.m.
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Lots of people drink. Not really a big deal. People would be surprised to know how many people show up for work the next day at a .05.... even cops.
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