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Black United Airlines Pilot Charged With Attempting To Fly Drunk

Written by Associated Press on January 5, 2010 5:05 pm

Britain Drunk Pilot

LONDON — A United Airlines pilot who was pulled from his trans-Atlantic flight to Chicago shortly before takeoff pleaded guilty Tuesday to being above the alcohol limit for flying a plane.

Erwin Vermont Washington, of Lakewood, Colorado, was removed from United Airlines Flight 949, which was scheduled to fly from London’s Heathrow Airport to Chicago in November, after a co-worker suspected him of being drunk.

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Prosecutor Kevin Christie said two policemen spoke to Washington about the concerns and performed a breath test especially designed for aviation staff, which he failed. He recorded a reading of 31 micrograms of alcohol per 100 milliliters of breath. The legal limit is nine micrograms.

The flight was canceled and the plane’s 124 passengers were put on other flights.

A blood test performed shortly after the breath test also showed that Washington had 50 milligrams of alcohol in 100 milliliters of blood. The limit for pilots is 20 milligrams. the legal limit for driving a car is 80 milligrams.

The 51-year-old pilot pleaded guilty at Uxbridge Magistrates Court near London and was released on unconditional bail. He will be sentenced Feb. 5.

United Airlines said in a statement that the pilot has been removed from service duty during legal proceedings and the company’s own investigation.

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Washington’s lawyer, Chris Humphreys, said the pilot was remorseful.

Referring to similar cases, Humphreys said an American Airlines pilot who recorded a reading of 39 milligrams of alcohol was given a fine last July, Another pilot who had 60 milligrams of alcohol in 100 milliliters of blood was given a suspended sentence.

Britain’s Crown Prosecution Service said the maximum sentence for aviation staff being over the legal limit for flying is two years in jail and a fine.

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  • http://www.blackplanet.com/_A_/ _A_

    I love how NewsOne picks up a story from another news source, then puts their own headline on it. I wouldn’t even mind so much except they love to sensationalize the headline. I’m sure the original headline didn’t contain the word Black, and although he had drinks, no where in this article does it say he was drunk. Having said all that, I’m glad they caught him prior to the flight, this was very irresponsible, and it makes me wonder how many pilots they DON’T catch!

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/virgin_ia1960/ virgin_ia1960

    I think that this is terrible we can’t even trust airline pilots to do their job. I often wondered about this? They should not be allowed to drink before any flight. God help us…

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/DASOUFS1STLADY/ DASOUFS1STLADY

    Yeah that was real smart smh.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/gz_up87/ gz_up87

    I work in the airport and workers in uniform cannot have alcoholic drinks. So he had to come to work drunk or he brought it. Pilots don’t even go thru the same security measures. He is a big shame; potentially putting all those lives in danger.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/Jahz_Lynx1/ Jahz_Lynx1

    Over the last 10 years, my state has the ‘highest’ percentage of pilots in rehab or on suspensions due to problems w/alcohol in the nation. They can keep their license if they don’t get a vehicular DUI. I’ve never seen a black pilot at our airport which is probaly why none of the stats have ever made the press.

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/3iiiE/ 3iiiE

    d@@@mn

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/Jack_Stephen1/ Jack_Stephen1

    there are people in all professions that are on dope or alcohol while on the job e.g., school bus drivers, doctors, office types, heavy equipment operators etc. many people function while under the influenc whether they’re above the limit or not.

  • http://www.rapgodfathers.com/forum/latest-news/568699-1-7-black-united-airlines-pilot-charged-attempting-fly-drunk.html#post7543667 1/7 Black United Airlines Pilot Charged With Attempting To Fly Drunk – Rap GodFathers Community

    [...] [...]

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/MR_NANASTROKER/ MR_NANASTROKER

    Had 2 REPOST

    many Pilots do cocaine and other substances or they like 2 function with the TASK of the Job at hand they simply cannot deal with the pressure and LONG HOURS…..stewardesses also

    Jack_Stephen1
    “there are people in all professions that are on dope or alcohol while on the job e.g., school bus drivers, doctors, office types, heavy equipment operators etc. many people function while under the influenc whether they’re above the limit or not.”

  • http://www.blackplanet.com/samsthewon/ samsthewon

    This N!GGA took “SOUL PLANE”to seriously…It was only a movie buster!…Your only supposed to watch a movie not act it out…!

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