Påvirkede flygere - Curt Lewis

SkyWest Airlines pilot, at helm of Delta flight, arrested for suspected drunkenness

A 38-year-old pilot was arrested in South Dakota on Wednesday morning under suspicion of operating a flight under the influence of alcohol, local police say.

Russel Duszak was taken into custody after TSA officers smelled alcohol on him and called local law enforcement, a Rapid City Police Department spokesperson told CBS News.

After an investigation, police said it was determined the pilot was in violation of the statute that prohibits flying with a blood-alcohol content of over .04.

They had to call in a replacement pilot, because our pilot was drunk. @Delta

Duszak, from Salt Lake City, was operating Delta Connection 4574 flight to his home town. He is a pilot for SkyWest Airlines, a regional airline that was operating for Delta.

Delta declined comment to CBS News, deferring to SkyWest. That airline said in a statement it is investigating and apologized for the delay, blaming it on a "crewmember issue."

Barbara Larsen was on the flight, she spoke to CBS News transportation correspondent Kris Van Cleave.

"I'll be pretty anxious now wondering where the copilot has been night before," she said.

Duszak has been placed on administrative leave and removed from flying duties.

Drunk pilot cases are rare, according to the FAA, 10 were arrested last year for having a blood alcohol concentration of .04 or greater, Van Cleave reported.

In August two United pilots were busted, suspected of being intoxicated as they prepared to fly 141 passengers from Scotland to the U.S.

IA, Jet Airways ground pilots for failing pre-flight alcohol test

The Air India pilot cannot fly for the next three years as his licence has been suspended for that period, while the Jet Airways pilot has been taken off the roster for three months. Image for representation.

Two pilots -- one each from Air India and Jet Airways -- have landed in trouble after they failed a pre-flight alcohol test, officials said on Wednesday.

The Air India pilot cannot fly for the next three years as his licence has been suspended for that period, while the Jet Airways pilot has been taken off the roster for three months.

The quantum of punishment for the Air India pilot is more as he is a repeat offender while it was the first time for the Jet pilot.

The Air India pilot was to fly the Birmingham-bound flight from Delhi, but was caught during the mandatory pre-flight checking, for the second time. A senior Air India official said the airline would take strict action against pilots who violate rules.

The Jet Airways pilot was to fly a Mumbai-Paris flight.

Government statistics showed that 122 pilots were caught during pre-flight examination between 2013 and 2016 till June 30.

Jet Airways and its subsidiary JetLite together had the highest number of 38 pilots, who were caught between 2013 and April 2016. Air India accounted for 19 pilots during this period, while IndiGo had 25 such pilots.

According to Aircraft Rules 1937, no person acting as pilot, commander, navigator, engineer, cabin crew or other operating member of the crew should have taken or used any alcoholic drink, sedative, narcotic or stimulant drug or preparation within 12 hours of commencement of the flight or take or use any such preparation in the course of the flight.

The DGCA had even warned pilots and crew members that mouthwash or a tooth gel, which has alcohol content, could land them in trouble. "No crew member shall consume any drug/formulation or use any substance, mouthwash/tooth gel which has alcoholic content," the Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR) said.

The regulator is of the view that alcohol present in body "even in small quantities" jeopardises flight safety on several counts and is likely to adversely affect an aviator well into the hangover period.