HELSINKI (Reuters) - Two Lufthansa pilots have tested positive for alcohol consumption last month after crew members alerted police shortly before the flight was due to take off from Helsinki, Finnish authorities have said.
Prosecutor Juha-Mikko Hamalainen said on Friday the tests showed some alcohol in the pilots' blood, but declined to say how much.
"Under Finnish law, they could face either a fine or imprisonment of up to two years," Hamalainen told Reuters. He said he expected the investigation to end next week.
International regulations prohibit pilots and flight attendants from flying within eight hours of consuming alcohol, while Lufthansa, along with most other airlines, has set a twelve hour restriction.
Lufthansa spokesman Michael Lamberty said the men, both German, had already left the airline after getting the blood test results.
"In this profession, you can't get away with this...We did not fire them, but they left the company. They won't fly for Lufthansa anymore," Lamberty said.
He said this was first such case he had heard of involving German pilots.
source:
http://www.reuters.co.uk/newsArticle...toryID=1987571