Virgin Co-Pilot Arrested

Filed in archive Aviation Travel on October 29, 2007

A Virgin Atlantic co-pilot was arrested on Sunday for allegedly being over The alcohol limit. According to an article on MSNBC, London police detained the unidentified man a few minutes before the flight was to depart the airport.

London police said officers boarded the Virgin Atlantic Airbus A340-600 as it was undergoing final checks before takeoff from Heathrow Airport to Miami. A 42-year-old crew member was arrested.

Virgin Atlantic confirmed the man was a first officer on the plane, which has a three-person flight crew. He was released on bail but was suspended from duty pending a police investigation.

The flight, VS5, was delayed for 3 1/2 hours while a replacement crew was found. There were 266 passengers on board.

Airline regulations, in accordance with transport law, recommend flight crews drink no alcohol for at least eight hours before flying.