A Delta Airlines pilot received a 10-month prison sentence for showing up for work with a blood alcohol level more than twice the legal limit during a flight between New York and Edinburgh.
The 63-year-old man, Lawrence Russell, received his sentence Tuesday after pleading guilty, reports the New York Post.
On June 16, 2023, the defendant showed up for his flight at Edinburgh Airport with two bottles of Jägermeister, one of which was half empty, in his luggage following a search.
He then took a test which revealed he had a blood alcohol level of 0.049, more than twice as high as the limit given to pilots in the UK of 0.02.
The flight from Edinburgh to New York had to be canceled and Mr Russell was arrested.
The latter lost his job and was diagnosed with a serious alcohol use disorder.
Upon his release from prison, Lawrence Russell will have to redo the certification process if he wants to return to his position as captain at Delta Airlines.
