Drunk British Airways pilot arrested just a few minutes before takeoff

A British Airways pilot who, after emptying several mini-bottles of vodka, intended to fly an 300 plane on board, was arrested and sentenced to 8 months in prison.

Фото: Depositphotos

Police brought 49-year-old Julian Monaghan out of the cab Boeing 777, after the breathing test showed that the pilot exceeded the permissible level of alcohol in the body, it happened just 10 minutes before the plane was supposed to fly to Mauritius from London Gatwick Airport, writes Daily Mail.

According to colleagues, the man has long had problems with alcohol, some saw him drink up to a liter of vodka in one evening.

Sources said that opposite Heathrow there is a special holiday home for pilots, where they can sleep after a long flight. After Monaghan stayed there, they often found empty vodka bottles of 1 liter in his room. As a result, the regularity of these finds concerned the janitor, and he wanted to report them to the office. British Airways, but Monaghan's colleagues dissuaded him.

Rules British Airways prohibit crew members to drink 8 hours before the start of their shift. The company stressed that the behavior of Monaghan is unacceptable because it jeopardizes the safety of passengers and crew.

In 2011, the airline was warned that Monaghan “bears a safety risk” and “unfit for work” after he was involved in a drunken bar dispute.

But British Airways decided that it was a single incident, which could not be regarded as evidence of the pilot’s unsuitability to perform his duties.

Monaghan admitted that he began drinking at 10: 15 in his hotel room in Gatwick after completing a night flight to London from South Africa.

He drank three mini-bottles of vodka, mixing alcohol with Coca-Cola. After that, he intended to manage a flight to Mauritius in 21: 20.

The doors of the aircraft were already closed, and he was ready to start moving when the police demanded that they be allowed on board.

Airport technician Verity McAllen during the final inspection of the aircraft felt the smell of alcohol coming from the pilot, despite the chewing gum. A woman reported this to the police. Militiamen discovered alcohol in his breath, the level of which in 4 times exceeded the limit allowed for pilots, and took Monaghan to the station. The court sentenced the man to 8 months in prison.

Because of the incident, the flight to Mauritius was delayed by one hour and 40 minutes.

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