Virgin under the influence
 

News reports of a Virgin Atlantic pilot detained in Washington prior to operating flight. Flight 22 / 18th I believe. Suspected of being under the influence of alcohol. Looks like one way or another we are all in for increased scrutiny at security.
..Make that the 19th....

Virgin Pilot held on Drink allegations
 

BBC news 24 are reporting that a Virgin Atlantic pilot is being held under the suspicion of being under the influence of Alcohol http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/default.stm


hopefully this will turn out to be false.

Whispering Giant:

The link you posted just took me to the main BBC news page, which doesn't seem to have a link to the article any more. Anyway, I dug a little deeper and found the article in "The Americas" section, so here's a link straight to that page:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/3336255.stm

Doesn't really say a hell of a lot though beyond your straight report of the story!

Tipsy Virgin pilot removed from plane

Dec 20, 2003

The captain of a Virgin Atlantic airliner about to fly from Washington to London was removed from the plane after he was suspected of being drunk.

Police at Washington's Dulles Airport were still investigating the incident involving a Boeing 747-400 jet, which was scheduled to carry 383 passengers.

"We haven't charged him with anything at this point," said Tara Hamilton, a spokeswoman for the Metropolitan Washington Airport Authority.

However, Virgin Atlantic canceled its Flight 22 to Heathrow, London's main airport, and rescheduled it for Saturday evening, an airline spokesman said.

"The pilot has been suspended with immediate effect and will face an internal inquiry," the spokesman said.

Virgin has put up the passengers at area hotels and promised them a free future flight, he said.

An airport transportation security screener alerted police that pilot might be drunk.

After an interview on the plane, the pilot was removed before any of the passengers had boarded, Hamilton said.

Reuters

http://onenews.nzoom.com/onenews_det...61-1-9,00.html

___________________________

Pilot Detained After Alcohol Detected

Friday, December 19, 2003 11:06 p.m. ET

WASHINGTON (AP) -- A Virgin Atlantic Airways pilot was detained shortly before his flight Friday night after security screeners detected alcohol on his breath, according to the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority.

Virgin Atlantic Flight 22, scheduled to leave Washington Dulles International Airport for London's Heathrow at 7:15 p.m., was canceled after the pilot was escorted off the plane by airport police.

Police responded to a call by the Transportation Safety Administration reporting suspicion of a pilot being under the influence of alcohol.

The pilot had gone through security screening and boarded the plane, said Tara Hamilton, Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority spokeswoman. He was being held and questioned at the airport Friday evening.

Virgin Atlantic spokesman John Riordan said 383 passengers were scheduled for the flight. They are being accommodated at hotels and are rescheduled for an evening flight Saturday.

http://wireservice.wired.com/wired/s...=wn_wire_story

Hi, thoughts with the crewmember concerned. Hopefully turn out as false allegations. Just checked my logbook and the IAD trip departs around 2240Z, approx 28 hrs after arriving.

Seems pretty cut and dry to me, I can't imagine a security guard having an axe to grind.................anyway time will tell.

There used to be a very good book going around that talked of the bad old days and pilots flying around drunk and high or on no sleep after the all night parties of old, can anyone remenber this one?

Willie

Khaosai

I'd like to think that you might spare a thought for his potential pax too. Or are they just mere SLF, not quite the same status as some of these god almighty pilots in their own mind?

If the allegations prove correct they could have had put their lifes put in danger by his selfish behaviour or do they really not matter in the equation, while you rally around your own regardless of the possible potential consequences of their indulgent, undisciplined, reckless behaviour. Poor drunk pilots me granny, I pity their pax & anyone else who has to put up with their irresponsible, childish behaviour & the sooner their weeded out of the industry ther better because we'd all be better off without them. If the allegations prove correct he deserves everything that's coming to him & more IMHO. :mad:

What is it with pilots & alcohol anyway? :rolleyes:

Coconuts

Funny that - We quite often say " what is it with passengers & alcohol anyway?

Coconuts, whoa whoa chap, take it easy. I appreciate the professional aspect of the job, so yes drinking and flying don't mix. I think we need to wait and see what the outcome is. Your name conjures up memories of a deserted beach in the indian ocean........so chill out. Rgds.

ETOPS

Not with this pax you don't besides they don't have hundreds of peoples lives in their care so you can't make the same equation. Maybe there all tanking up before their flights cause there afraid it might be flown by some tanked up pilot, would you blame them?

(Oh & what's it with the weird homepage mate, thought that kinda thing was a no no on here)????

Khaosai

This subject has been bothering me for a long time, but I've been biting my lip each time it keeps up, sorry that you had to be sounding board for my pent up wrath, just the way you worded it mate.

There have been too many instances lately of pilots turning up for flights smelling of alcohol and these have been helthily debated on this site.

However, I can't seem to remember an occasion when a pilot has been arrested on suspicion of being over the limit for an evening flight, all the ones I can remember have been the 1st flight of the day.

Any pilot who turns up for an evening flight smelling of alcohol has either had one hell of a drinking session the night before or has bee totally irresponsible and neglectful of his duties by having had drinks in the afternoon prior to the flight.

I sincerely hope that these allegations are proved to be false but the fact remains that drinking and flying, like drinking and driving is something to be frowned upon and discouraged.

What bugs me about this, and indeed some previous incidents, is why the 'security staff' or whoever, allow the Pilot they are suspicious of to get as far as the aircraft!

Indeed, in this case, they even managed to board 300+ pax before doing anything. There must have been 30+ minutes notice if this event, during which boarding continued and further disruption was assured.

This would have been far less public and newsworthy had the original suspicions been acted on immediately.

There is a hint of unnecessary delay here that elevated this allegation to headline status.

Coconuts - you don't have to look too far back when passengers ended up being responsible for hundreds of lives with devastating consequences.

If the allegations are true then the culprit should indeed be hung out to dry and let it be a lesson to anyone else abusing responsibility in such a way.

If, as Khaosi was suggesting, it's all a big mistake (which I hope it is) then my thoughts will also be with the person concerned.

If there is a big problem "with pilots and alcohol" then don't bite your lip spit it out and let's hear about it.

:confused:

Coconuts.

What do you do for a living?

Besides being perfect that is.

L337

Coconuts,

What exactly do you do ?

Generalising that pilots and alcohol are inextricably linked is not true. The problem is miniscule when you bear in mind how many flights are operated in the world every day. If, and it is if, he has been stupid then he will pay the consequences of his actions, lose his job, probably be unable to find employment again in the industry and have to deal with the knock-on effects on his family and their lives this Christmas.

Perhaps if you were a pilot, you might begin to understand the stresses many have to suffer, being away from home, having to cope with time zone changes, disrupted sleep patterns causing fatigue and tiredness, night flying etc etc.

And don't think I am defending him if he is guilty because I am not, but I can understand why it happens. People jump into cars every day thinking they are fit to drive when they are not, endangering their lives and others. Ever done it yourself ?

caniplay etc. ,...or has just used an alcohol-soaked wipe to clean his headphones?

Coconut The freedom of the internet is a wonderful thing on the whole, but the downside is it gives a disproportionate importance to the biased ramblings of people like yourself.

You say about pilots,The thing is, this is just not true. Professional pilots are nearly to a man and woman amongst the most disciplined, self-controlled and responsible set of individuals you could find. The job demands nothing less - it's as simple as that.

The real fact is that the incidence of alcohol as a contributory factor in airline accidents is simply not statistically significant. But I guess that's just not exciting enough for you.

Why don't you go jump on another bandwagon.

Willie Nelson


How can you possibly say that without knowing all the facts or are you a Washington Law Enforcement officer?

As for the security guards how much do you think they earn?

Prick

Haven't had such a laugh in ages :}

Hey, coconuts; have you never driven more than 30mph in a built up area? Never?!!?

And if the crew member is found innocent (i.e. not over the limit), then who pays the pax hotel bills - who refunds Virgin? And in this litignous world, can't we sue the authorities/"security" for delays, missed connections, etc ...??? :}