Pilot held in cockpit is ‘4 times drink limit’ | The Sun |News

By ANTHONY FRANCE

Published: Today
ARMED cops nicked a boozy pilot at Heathrow yesterday as he was about to take off for Chicago with 300 passengers.
Captain Joseph Crites, 57, was allegedly four times the limit when he was held trying to enter the cockpit of his American Airlines Boeing 777.

The veteran US flier, from Ohio, had been drinking the night before.

Security staff alerted cops when they smelled alcohol on his breath.

Passengers on Flight AA87 were delayed for 1½ hours until a replacement pilot was found for the 4,900-mile trip.

Cpt Crites was taken to Heathrow nick after failing a breath test. He was bailed until July 16.

American Airlines last night insisted: “The company has strict policies on alcohol and substance abuse and holds its employees to the highest standards.”