Friday, February 17, 2012

Drunk Pilot? Suspicion Delays Flight

A Frontier Airlines flight from Omaha to Milwaukee was delayed today when the pilot was suspected of being drunk and kept from boarding the plane.

"Our police received information alleging that a Frontier crew member was impaired and, acting on that information, our police intercepted the employee before he boarded the flight," Chris Martin, director of operations for Omaha's Eppley Airfield, told ABCNews.com.

"They spoke with him, and asked him a few questions, and determined there was reasonable suspicion that he was impaired and turned it over to Frontier Airlines staff," Martin said.

A hotel shuttle driver tipped off the police, Martin said.

PHOTO: A Frontier Airlines flight from Omaha to Milwaukee was delayed Thursday morning after the pilot, suspected of being drunk, was kept from getting on the plane, according to police at Eppley Airfield, Feb. 16, 2012.

ABC

A Frontier Airlines flight from Omaha to... View Full Size
PHOTO: A Frontier Airlines flight from Omaha to Milwaukee was delayed Thursday morning after the pilot, suspected of being drunk, was kept from getting on the plane, according to police at Eppley Airfield, Feb. 16, 2012.
Congress Leaves FAA Workers High And Dry Watch Video
Airport Security Passes Stolen From Hotel Room Watch Video
Cat Causes Airplane Delays Watch Video

The pilot, identified only as a man, was not arrested.

"We acted on it immediately, as soon as we were made aware of a potential situation," Martin said. "We never arrested him. We talked with him and turned him over to the local Frontier Airlines staff."

Flight 1894, a regional aircraft operated by Chautauqua Airlines, was scheduled to leave Omaha at 6 a.m., but did not leave until 8 a.m. because the airline needed to bring in another pilot, according to ABC News' Omaha affiliate KETV.

The flight's 29 passengers did not have to wait on the tarmac, however. They were permitted back in the airport to wait.

Martin said Frontier has deemed the incident a "personnel matter."

Representatives of Frontier Airlines did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

"I know they have advised the FAA, as have we, so I'm sure they will also do an investigation," Martin said.

Source: http://feeds.abcnews.com/click.phdo?i=5e40f2d2f283e0d3ed0b29d716457f1b

bbc world news japan earthquake bbc world news japan tsunami bbc world news latest bbc world news latest online bbc world news live

No comments:

Post a Comment