America West pilots, Christopher Hughes, left, and Thomas Cloyd. (AP)
Pilots Jailed On Drunk Charges
Quote:
MIAMI, July 1, 2002
(CBS) Two America West pilots on a Phoenix-bound jetliner were ordered back to the airport terminal moments before they were to takeoff Monday and arrested for being legally drunk, reports CBS News Correspondent Bobbi Harley.
Pilot Thomas Cloyd, 44, and co-pilot Christopher Hughes, 40, were at the helm of America West Flight 566 and about to takeoff when officials ordered that they return the plane to the terminal.
They were given breath tests and registered blood-alcohol levels above .08, Florida's legal limit for operating machinery, said Miami-Dade police Detective Juan DelCastillo.
Cloyd had a .091 blood-alcohol level, while Hughes registered .084, DelCastillo said. Federal Aviation Administration rules forbid pilots from drinking alcohol eight hours prior to flying a plane. America West's policy is 12 hours.
Each was charged with a felony count of operating an aircraft under the influence and operating a motor vehicle under the influence, police said.
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Fortunately, the pilots were unarmed at the time and were arrested without incident.
07-02-2002, 12:41 AM
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