Delta pilot jailed for being over alcohol limit before New York flight

DELTA BOEING 757-232 N655DL (MSN 24395)

An American pilot, caught over the alcohol limit before he was due to fly a passenger plane from Edinburgh (EDI/EGPH) to New York (JFK/KJFK), has been jailed for 10 months. Lawrence Russell, 63, was searched by airport security officers at about 09:15 on the 16th of June last year. He was found to have two bottles of Jägermeister in his carry-on luggage - one of which was half full.

A breath test revealed the Delta Airlines captain was more than twice the legal alcohol limit for pilots. The court heard Russell had not less than 49mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood. This exceeded the strict legal limit which is 20mg of alcohol.

Sheriff Alison Stirling said a prison sentence had to be imposed as a punishment and for the "protection of the public". The court previously heard the pilot was to take control of a Boeing 767 flight from Edinburgh Airport to JFK Airport in New York, which was due to take off at 10:35am that day.

His bags were selected for inspection by security staff who were said to have "noted Mr. Russell was wearing a pilot uniform, a lanyard around his neck and a Delta Airline crew pass". The captain was "identified as the owner of the bag", which contained two bottles of the herbal liqueur.

Fiscal depute Matthew Millar told the court one of the bottles had been opened and was "half full". Mr. Millar said: "given Mr. Russell was wearing a pilot uniform the police had to be contacted. "Mr. Russell identified himself to the constables and said he was the captain of the aircraft."

He provided police with a sample of breath and, after being arrested, was taken to Livingston police station, West Lothian, where he provided a blood sample. The fiscal depute said when Russell was cautioned and charged, he told officers: "I'm terrified".

Following the pilot's arrest, the flight to New York was cancelled and Delta Airlines confirmed all the passengers were then helped with their travel plans. On Tuesday the court heard the father-of-two also has two previous convictions for driving while under the influence of alcohol in the US.

Defence lawyer Pamela Rodgers said her client was a recovering alcoholic who had not drunk alcohol for 277 days and had completed the 12 Steps to Recovery rehab programme.

Ms Rodgers said Russell was just the fourth pilot to be prosecuted in Scotland for attempting to fly while under the influence of alcohol and was "remorseful" for his actions.

Lynne Barrie, procurator fiscal for Lothian and Borders, said: "Lawrence Russell's conduct would have endangered many lives; the consequences could have been catastrophic.

"He showed a reckless disregard for the safety of his passengers and crew. The pilot of a commercial aircraft holds the lives of hundreds in his hands. He would have put all of them at serious risk.

"This conviction should send the message that crimes of this nature will be robustly dealt with the court said."