American Airlines pilot arrested
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American Airlines pilot arrested
Apparently an American Airlines pilot was arrested at Manchester Airport yesterday (7/2/19), for preparing to undertake an aviation function whilst under the influence of alcohol. The A330 flight to Philadelphia was subsequently cancelled. Pilot released on bail.
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From Sky News
'Drunk' pilot arrested at Manchester airport - minutes before take-off
'Drunk' pilot arrested at Manchester airport - minutes before take-off
Friday 8 February 2019 12:50, UK
The arrest happened minutes before take-off to Philadelphia, and the flight had to be cancelled. An American Airlines pilot has been arrested at Manchester airport on suspicion of being drunk - just minutes before he was meant to fly to the US.
Flight AA735, which was scheduled to depart for Philadelphia at 11.05am on Thursday, had to be cancelled.
The 62-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of performing an aviation function while over the prescribed alcohol limit, Greater Manchester Police revealed on Friday.
The force said officers "received a report that an airline pilot may have been under the influence of alcohol".
The pilot, who has not been named, has been bailed.
American Airlines confirmed a member of its crew was detained at the airport on Thursday - adding that affected passengers were rebooked onto other flights.The airline said it is "fully co-operating with local law enforcement" over the incident.
The arrest happened minutes before take-off to Philadelphia, and the flight had to be cancelled. An American Airlines pilot has been arrested at Manchester airport on suspicion of being drunk - just minutes before he was meant to fly to the US.
Flight AA735, which was scheduled to depart for Philadelphia at 11.05am on Thursday, had to be cancelled.
The 62-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of performing an aviation function while over the prescribed alcohol limit, Greater Manchester Police revealed on Friday.
The force said officers "received a report that an airline pilot may have been under the influence of alcohol".
The pilot, who has not been named, has been bailed.
American Airlines confirmed a member of its crew was detained at the airport on Thursday - adding that affected passengers were rebooked onto other flights.The airline said it is "fully co-operating with local law enforcement" over the incident.
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Looks like he has entered a guilty plea.
From the Daily Mail:
Pilot David Copeland, 62, was stopped by security at Manchester Airport
American Airlines employee was 'unsteady on his feet' and failed breath test
He admitted being over the drink-fly limit and putting lives at risk at court today
Copeland, of Pennsylvania, US, will be sentenced at crown court next month
By Joseph Curtis For Mailonline
Published: 08:57 EDT, 10 April 2019 | Updated: 13:01 EDT, 10 April 2019
American Airlines pilot David Copeland, 62, pictured, could face jail after admitting putting hundreds of lives at risk by turning up to Manchester Airport too drunk to flyAn American pilot could face jail after he admitted putting hundreds of lives at risk when he was caught over the drinking limit for flying.
David Copeland, 62, from Pennsylvania, US, who works as a pilot for American Airlines, was pulled over by security at Manchester Airport in February because they wanted to check his hand luggage.
Security guard Jordan Fletcher found Copeland, due to fly to Philadelphia, was 'unstable on his feet' and he could smell alcohol on his breath.Police were called and he failed a breath test and then a subsequent blood test at a nearby police station.
The court heard he had 27ml of alcohol per 100ml of blood, which is 7ml over the limit - but less than half the drink-drive limit.
He appeared at Manchester Magistrates Court today where he pleaded guilty to performing an aviation task while intoxicated.
District Judge Mark Hadfield condemned Copeland for putting people's lives at risk.
Judge Hadfield said: 'Almost always a jail sentence is passed in these cases, not just because of the inconvenience caused, but because passengers are put at risk.
'He has put hundreds of people at risk. You are going to struggle to convince me to deal with it in this court.'
Prosecuting, Andrew Hey, said: 'On February 7 of this year, Jordan Fletcher was working at Manchester Airport as a security officer. He had reason to speak to this defendant regarding hand luggage.'He informed his manager who called the police. PC Greenfield attended and he spoke to the pilot of the flight from Manchester to Philadelphia which was sat on the runway.
'He called to the defendant discreetly to ask him to leave the cockpit. The defendant said that he had alcohol 12 hours ago and had a coffee in the last 20 minutes.
'A sample of breath was taken which read 'Air Fail'. He was taken to a police station where he blood was taken which read 27mg per 100ml of blood - the legal limit is 20ml.'
The court heard Copeland, pictured, was stopped by security to check his luggage but that they then found him 'unsteady on his feet' and he subsequently failed breath and blood checks
He was due to fly from Manchester Airport, pictured, to Philadelphia in February
Mitigating, Jane Novas-Morell said: 'It's largely unprecedented. This is an extremely low reading, 0.27 in blood, which equates to about 13ml in breath by my calculation.
'This defendant has pleaded guilty at the first opportunity. I would respectfully submit that this is, realistically, a case that could be dealt with by way of a fine.
'He was not largely over the limit, and experts have said he would have past the test if it was taken 30 minutes later. I also think it's unrealistic that they smelt it on his breath.'
Sending the case to crown court for sentencing, Judge Hadfield said: 'You're not going to smell alcohol on your own breath. Given the risk that created, and I imagine on a long haul flight that numerous people would have been put at risk, it's a Crown Court matter.
'David Copeland, you have pleaded guilty to a very serious offence at the earliest opportunity. In my view, it's far too serious for this court, so it's going to be a Crown Court sentence.'
David Copeland will appear at Minshull Street Crown Court, Manchester, on May 8 for sentencing.
From the Daily Mail:
American Airlines pilot, 62, faces jail after he put 'hundreds of people at risk' by trying to fly a plane while 'drunk' from Manchester Airport to Philadelphia
Pilot David Copeland, 62, was stopped by security at Manchester Airport
American Airlines employee was 'unsteady on his feet' and failed breath test
He admitted being over the drink-fly limit and putting lives at risk at court today
Copeland, of Pennsylvania, US, will be sentenced at crown court next month
By Joseph Curtis For Mailonline
Published: 08:57 EDT, 10 April 2019 | Updated: 13:01 EDT, 10 April 2019
American Airlines pilot David Copeland, 62, pictured, could face jail after admitting putting hundreds of lives at risk by turning up to Manchester Airport too drunk to flyDavid Copeland, 62, from Pennsylvania, US, who works as a pilot for American Airlines, was pulled over by security at Manchester Airport in February because they wanted to check his hand luggage.
Security guard Jordan Fletcher found Copeland, due to fly to Philadelphia, was 'unstable on his feet' and he could smell alcohol on his breath.Police were called and he failed a breath test and then a subsequent blood test at a nearby police station.
The court heard he had 27ml of alcohol per 100ml of blood, which is 7ml over the limit - but less than half the drink-drive limit.
He appeared at Manchester Magistrates Court today where he pleaded guilty to performing an aviation task while intoxicated.
District Judge Mark Hadfield condemned Copeland for putting people's lives at risk.
Judge Hadfield said: 'Almost always a jail sentence is passed in these cases, not just because of the inconvenience caused, but because passengers are put at risk.
'He has put hundreds of people at risk. You are going to struggle to convince me to deal with it in this court.'
Prosecuting, Andrew Hey, said: 'On February 7 of this year, Jordan Fletcher was working at Manchester Airport as a security officer. He had reason to speak to this defendant regarding hand luggage.
'Mr Fletcher said that, during his dealings, he asked the defendant various questions and he could smell intoxicants on his breath. He said he was acting in a peculiar manner and looked unstable on his feet.
'He called to the defendant discreetly to ask him to leave the cockpit. The defendant said that he had alcohol 12 hours ago and had a coffee in the last 20 minutes.
'A sample of breath was taken which read 'Air Fail'. He was taken to a police station where he blood was taken which read 27mg per 100ml of blood - the legal limit is 20ml.'
+3
'This defendant has pleaded guilty at the first opportunity. I would respectfully submit that this is, realistically, a case that could be dealt with by way of a fine.
'He was not largely over the limit, and experts have said he would have past the test if it was taken 30 minutes later. I also think it's unrealistic that they smelt it on his breath.'
Sending the case to crown court for sentencing, Judge Hadfield said: 'You're not going to smell alcohol on your own breath. Given the risk that created, and I imagine on a long haul flight that numerous people would have been put at risk, it's a Crown Court matter.
'David Copeland, you have pleaded guilty to a very serious offence at the earliest opportunity. In my view, it's far too serious for this court, so it's going to be a Crown Court sentence.'
David Copeland will appear at Minshull Street Crown Court, Manchester, on May 8 for sentencing.
Buttonpusher
.'He informed his manager who called the police. PC Greenfield attended and he spoke to the pilot of the flight from Manchester to Philadelphia which was sat on the runway.
The court heard he had 27ml of alcohol per 100ml of blood, which is 7ml over the limit - but less than half the drink-drive limit.
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Does it appear that the case is being sent to Crown Court because the District Judge feels that Copeland deserves a sentence greater than the six months and a fine that can be imposed in Magistrate's Court? Or is the case sent to Crown Court for sentencing pro forma as a serious offense and the sentence may not necessarily be higher?
Was Copeland an FO on the flight?
Was Copeland an FO on the flight?
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Does it appear that the case is being sent to Crown Court because the District Judge feels that Copeland deserves a sentence greater than the six months and a fine that can be imposed in Magistrate's Court? Or is the case sent to Crown Court for sentencing pro forma as a serious offense and the sentence may not necessarily be higher?
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David Copeland...could face jail after admitting putting hundreds of lives at risk by turning up to Manchester Airport too drunk to fly.
Too drunk to fly? Does that mean there's an acceptable level of drunk?
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The word “drunk” simply does not apply to a level of .027.
The many idiotic and critical comments on this thread demonstrate how ill-informed the non-pro pilots are, the ones who infest this site.
He was below the FAA limit, and was 1/3 the previous UK limit. A reasonable limit would be 0.03, as most AME’s agree.
The many idiotic and critical comments on this thread demonstrate how ill-informed the non-pro pilots are, the ones who infest this site.
He was below the FAA limit, and was 1/3 the previous UK limit. A reasonable limit would be 0.03, as most AME’s agree.
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Yep, the first drunk AA pilot in MAN was acquitted after his brigadier Ohio Air Guard buddy turned up in dress uniform to wow the jury as a character witness.
Jury forgives pilot who 'drank whiskey in sleep'
By Russell Jenkins in London
March 23, 2007 03:19am
AN American Airlines pilot arrested at an airport after reportedly arriving for duty drunk was found not guilty yesterday after telling a jury that he must have consumed a third of a bottle of Irish whiskey in his sleep...
...He claimed a sleeping disorder might have led him to drink from a bottle of Bushmills whiskey the night before.
...He slapped colleagues on the back and grinned with delight when the verdict was announced.
Earlier, the jury was told he had left the Renaissance Hotel in Manchester for a seven-hour drinking session with his two fellow pilots.
He had drunk pints of beer in at least four pubs before retiring for a whiskey in the hotel bar.
Around midnight, he swallowed a sedative to help him to sleep.
When he woke up the next morning, after 9am, he could hear his captain banging on the hotel door.
He noticed that about a third of the Irish whiskey he had bought the previous night had been consumed, but he had no memory of drinking it.
By Russell Jenkins in London
March 23, 2007 03:19am
AN American Airlines pilot arrested at an airport after reportedly arriving for duty drunk was found not guilty yesterday after telling a jury that he must have consumed a third of a bottle of Irish whiskey in his sleep...
...He claimed a sleeping disorder might have led him to drink from a bottle of Bushmills whiskey the night before.
...He slapped colleagues on the back and grinned with delight when the verdict was announced.
Earlier, the jury was told he had left the Renaissance Hotel in Manchester for a seven-hour drinking session with his two fellow pilots.
He had drunk pints of beer in at least four pubs before retiring for a whiskey in the hotel bar.
Around midnight, he swallowed a sedative to help him to sleep.
When he woke up the next morning, after 9am, he could hear his captain banging on the hotel door.
He noticed that about a third of the Irish whiskey he had bought the previous night had been consumed, but he had no memory of drinking it.
American Airlines senior air stewardess, 57, was arrested after being found EIGHT times the alcohol limit while giving pre-flight safety demonstration
Stacy Rosehill was arrested before the flight from Manchester to Chicago
The 57-year-old had been drinking wine and whisky the night before the flight
Police were called after security smelled alcohol on American Airlines attendant
She admitted being over legal limit and must pay a £140 ($178) fine plus costs
She's been suspended on full pay and faces disciplinary hearing in U.S.
By Jennifer Newton for MailOnline
Published: 11:46 EDT, 6 December 2016 | Updated: 02:52 EDT, 7 December 2016
Stacy Rosehill, 57, from Chicago, was carrying out the pre-flight demonstration ahead of the American Airlines flight to her hometown when officers were alerted to a tip-off by security staff, who could smell alcohol on her breath.
The senior flight attendant was then escorted off the Boeing 787 Dreamliner and taken into custody as around 300 passengers were waiting to take off.Tests later showed she had 71 microgrammes of alcohol per 100ml of her breath. The legal limit under aviation rules is 9mg, much stricter than the rules for driving.
Today Manchester Magistrates Court heard that Rosehill had become drunk the night before the flight after going to a 'bring your own booze' restaurant during a stopover in Manchester.
It is thought she had been drinking wine before knocking back whisky from her hotel mini-bar at 2am.
When she reported for duty seven hours later, she was still under the influence.
At the hearing today, Rosehill admitted performing an aviation function while over the prescribed limit under the Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003.
She was fined £140 ($178) and must also pay £85 ($108) legal costs and a £30 ($38) victim surcharge.
Stacy Rosehill was arrested before the flight from Manchester to Chicago
The 57-year-old had been drinking wine and whisky the night before the flight
Police were called after security smelled alcohol on American Airlines attendant
She admitted being over legal limit and must pay a £140 ($178) fine plus costs
She's been suspended on full pay and faces disciplinary hearing in U.S.
By Jennifer Newton for MailOnline
Published: 11:46 EDT, 6 December 2016 | Updated: 02:52 EDT, 7 December 2016
Stacy Rosehill, an American Airlines stewardess, was arrested while giving a safety demonstration on a flight from Manchester airport after she was found to be eight-times the legal alcohol limit
An American Airlines stewardess was arrested while giving a safety demonstration on a flight from Manchester airport after she was found to be eight-times the legal alcohol limit.Stacy Rosehill, 57, from Chicago, was carrying out the pre-flight demonstration ahead of the American Airlines flight to her hometown when officers were alerted to a tip-off by security staff, who could smell alcohol on her breath.
The senior flight attendant was then escorted off the Boeing 787 Dreamliner and taken into custody as around 300 passengers were waiting to take off.Tests later showed she had 71 microgrammes of alcohol per 100ml of her breath. The legal limit under aviation rules is 9mg, much stricter than the rules for driving.
Today Manchester Magistrates Court heard that Rosehill had become drunk the night before the flight after going to a 'bring your own booze' restaurant during a stopover in Manchester.
It is thought she had been drinking wine before knocking back whisky from her hotel mini-bar at 2am.
When she reported for duty seven hours later, she was still under the influence.
At the hearing today, Rosehill admitted performing an aviation function while over the prescribed limit under the Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003.
She was fined £140 ($178) and must also pay £85 ($108) legal costs and a £30 ($38) victim surcharge.
I suspect the current pilot's fine will be more than £140 with his increased responsibility on the crew.
Like the Isleworth Crown Court near LHR and the Paisley Sheriff's Court in GOW, the Manchester Magistrates' Court probably needs to consider adding a crew lounge.
Another in a never-ending series...
Last edited by Airbubba; 14th Apr 2019 at 03:16.