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Posted: Tuesday, 10 November 2009 11:30AM
Pilot Arrested Before Flight On Drinking Charges
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CHICAGO (CBS) ― A United Airlines pilot was arrested Monday on charges that he was about to fly 124 people from London to Chicago – drunk.
United Flight 949, a Boeing 767, was set to depart London Heathrow International Airport on Monday at 12:05 p.m. London time for O'Hare International Airport, United told CBS 2.
But authorities discovered the pilot may have been drunk, and the pilot was arrested by London Metropolitan Police, United said.
The 124 passengers got off the plane and put on other flights to Chicago. There were also 11 crew members, United said.
The pilot was given a breathalyzer test, then released on bond, the London Independent reported.
"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 said in a statement. "United's alcohol policy is among the strictest in the industry and we have no tolerance for violation of this well-established policy."
This is the second time in the past six months that an airline pilot set to fly from London to Chicago has gotten arrested for being drunk. InMay, an American Airlines pilot set to fly out of Heathrow was arrested after failing a breathalyzer test.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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