Two pilots aged 61 and 45 are arrested after turning up ‘drunk’ to a United Airlines flight from Glasgow to New Jersey forcing it to be cancelled
- Today’s 9am flight from Glasgow Airport to Newark in New Jersey was cancelled
- The pilots, aged 61 and 45, were arrested for failing a breath test before the flight
- They are both due to appear in court on Tuesday, according to Police Scotland
- Were you on the cancelled flight? Let us know: danny.hussain@mailonline.co.uk
Two pilots have been arrested after a flight from Glasgow Airport to New Jersey was cancelled this morning because they turned up ‘drunk’.
They were arrested by police on suspicion of being under the influence of drink or drugs before boarding the United Airlines flight.
The flight, number UA162 to Newark in New Jersey, was due to leave Glasgow Airport at 9am, but was cancelled after the pair’s arrest.
Both men are pilots, aged 61 and 45, a Police Scotland spokesman confirmed and are due to appear in court on Tuesday.
Furious passengers took to social media to vent their frustrations at United Airlines, as they waited for more than an hour before being told the flight was cancelled.
The flight, number UA162 to Newark in New Jersey, was due to leave Glasgow Airport at 9am, but was cancelled
A police spokesman said: ‘Police Scotland can confirm that two men aged 61 and 45 years old have been arrested and remanded in custody pending a scheduled court appearance on Tuesday August 6 on suspicion of offences under the Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003, section 97.’
One passenger wrote on Twitter: ‘UA162 from Glasgow delayed – boarding was announced at 8.15am, but nothing has happened – they just announced that the flight crew hasn’t arrived. Really? Is this the best you can do UA? Some people have connecting flights to catch in Newark!!!’
A follow-up tweet from the passenger read: ‘UA162 is now delayed by over an hour and still no crew. Totally unacceptable!! The least you could do is hand out some refreshments to the passengers.’
Another passenger tweeted after the cancellation: ‘Can I have an honest answer as to why the GLA to EWR has been cancelled?’
United Airlines replied: ‘Thanks for reaching out. We regret that our flight for today from GLA to EWR, UA162, has been cancelled because of crew availability.’
The airline has been contacted for comment.
The limit for alcohol in the breath for pilots specified as 9 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres – less than half the 22 microgrammes limit for drivers in Scotland.
The law covers offences where aviation staff are intoxicated by either alcohol or drugs, with punishments of up to two years in prison or a fine if found guilty.
A spokesman for Glasgow Airport said: ‘This morning Police Scotland did attend before the United Airlines flight UA162, going to Newark.
‘The flight was subsequently cancelled.’