There is a difference between alcoholism and irresponsibility.

I know of a pilot of a well known regional airline who was a self acknowledged alcoholic, had sought treatment and who had successfully maintained complete abstinence for years. Then one day the van driver reported alcohol on his breath after driving him to the airport for a late afternoon show. He was tested and blew way over.

I do not know the circumstances behind this latest incident in OMA. None of us knows whether the problem was /is clinical alcoholism or just a case of partying too hard for too long the night before. If the former case it is good that he will now get the help he needs; if the latter he will get a harsh lesson.

But none of us knows which is the case and none of us is in a position to make judgements with regard to why this pilot ended up in the situation in which he now finds himself.