Delta Air Lines pilot pleads guilty to being over alcohol limit before flight from Edinburgh to New York

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A Delta Air Lines pilot stopped with open bottles of alcohol in his baggage has pleaded guilty to being over the limit before he was due to fly a passenger airplane from Edinburgh to New York.

Lawrence Russell, 63, was stopped and searched by airport safety in Scotland in June final yr, later pleading guilty to reporting for obligation as a pilot whereas being impaired by way of drink or medication.

During the search he was discovered to have two bottles of Jägermeister in his baggage – one in every of which was half full, in accordance to the BBC.

Russell, who’s from the US state of Georgia the place Delta is predicated, had been due to fly a Boeing 767 filled with passengers from Edinburgh to New York before he was detained.

During a routine baggage inspection at round 8am on 16 June at Edinburgh Airport, safety personnel had been alerted to the alcohol in Russell’s bag.

He was reportedly wearing his pilot uniform, visibly recognized as a Delta Air Lines crew member and was instantly questioned by the police after the alcohol was discovered.

The inspection and subsequent breathalyser check revealed a blood alcohol focus considerably above the authorized limit for performing aviation duties. Mr Russell was arrested and remanded in custody at Edinburgh Sheriff Court after pleading guilty to the fees.

Per the BBC, the court docket heard the alcohol degree within the pilot’s blood pattern was “not less than 49mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood”. The authorized limit is simply 20mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood.

Fiscal depute Matthew Millar mentioned when Russell was cautioned and charged he advised officers “I’m terrified”, the BBC reported.

Lawyer Pamela Rogers, defending, offered the court docket with a medical report of the remedy Russell has been receiving for his alcoholism and mentioned he was “under no illusion” of the seriousness of the offence.

Sheriff Alison Stirling has deferred sentence to later this month for the preparation of reviews.

The Independent has contacted Delta for remark.