An American pilot scheduled to fly a transatlantic flight for Delta Air Lines was jailed in Scotland on Tuesday on drunken charges, Scottish prosecutors announced.
Delta Air Lines pilot Captain Lawrence Russell, 63, has pleaded guilty to “reporting for duty as a pilot while impaired by alcohol,” the Crown Prosecution and Fiscal Service (COPFS) announced. statement. Russell was sentenced to 10 months in prison at Edinburgh Sheriff Court, a statement said.
According to reports, Russell was scheduled to fly a Boeing 767 from Edinburgh to New York’s JFK Airport on June 16, 2023, wearing a uniform and a lanyard with the word “Delta” embroidered on it. At the time, the X-ray machine rejected his carry-on baggage. Policeman. The luggage reportedly contained two bottles of Jagermeister, one of which was already opened and half empty.
“After Russell failed a breath test at 9:30 a.m., a blood sample was subsequently taken and it was determined that 100 milliliters of Russell’s blood contained more than 49 milligrams of alcohol,” COPFS said. Announced. The legal limit is 20 milligrams of alcohol in 100 milliliters of blood, the statement said.
Russell reportedly admitted to being in possession of the alcohol that was in the package. (Related: Report: Pilot arrested in Scotland after allegedly showing up drunk on New York-bound flight)
Sentencing Russell, Sheriff Alison Stirling said she had imposed the sentence as a “punishment”. [and the] The Guardian appealed for “the protection of the public”, observing that Mr Russell had been twice convicted of drink-driving in the US. report.
Mr Russell’s lawyer, Pamela Rogers, told the court he was “remorseful” and a recovering alcoholic who had been sober for 277 days and completed a 12-step Alcoholics Anonymous program. He said he was a patient with the disease, the report said.
“Lawrence Russell’s actions would have put many lives at risk. According to COPFS, prosecutor Lyn Barry argued that the consequences could have been catastrophic. “He was a passenger and showed reckless disregard for the safety of his crew. Commercial airline pilots hold hundreds of lives in their hands. He would have put them all at grave risk.”
“Delta is aware of this incident and has removed the pilot from the flight while conducting a thorough investigation in coordination with Scottish authorities,” Delta said in a statement. As told to Business Insider.
