(CNN) — A JetBlue pilot was once “got rid of from his tasks” at Buffalo Niagara Global Airport on Wednesday morning after he was once discovered to have a blood alcohol stage “two times the criminal prohibit,” consistent with a press free up from the airport and a observation from JetBlue.
James Clifton, 52, was once passing via safety when a TSA agent “spotted he can have been impaired,” states the click free up.
Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority Police replied and the pilot was once given a Breathalyzer check. After he registered a blood alcohol stage of .17, Clifton was once taken into custody and launched to JetBlue safety, the airport mentioned.
The blood alcohol prohibit for pilots is 0.04, consistent with the FAA, which means the pilot’s blood alcohol stage was once if truth be told over 4 instances the criminal prohibit according to FAA rules.
Clifton admitted to having “5-6 [drinks] the evening prior to at dinner,” consistent with a police file acquired by means of CNN.
JetBlue mentioned in a observation that they’ve a strict 0 tolerance inside alcohol coverage, that they’re cooperating with government, and that they’re undertaking their very own inside investigation into the topic.
“We’re acutely aware of the incident that passed off this morning in Buffalo and are cooperating totally with regulation enforcement,” JetBlue’s observation reads. “The crewmember concerned has been got rid of from his tasks.”
The Air Line Pilots Affiliation union didn’t deal with the precise incident when reached by means of CNN for remark, however mentioned in a observation that “the airline piloting occupation in North The us is likely one of the maximum extremely scrutinized careers and airline pilots’ professionalism has contributed to creating air transportation the most secure type of delivery for passengers and air shipment shippers.”
Clifton is from Orlando, Florida. The aircraft he was once scheduled to fly was once en path to Fortress Lauderdale, Buffalo Niagara Global Airport mentioned in its press free up.
