A Jet Blue pilot was removed from a plane’s cockpit in Buffalo on Wednesday morning after a TSA officer told authorities that he appeared “impaired” while passing through security, authorities said.
The pilot, James Clifton, 52, was taken into custody after registering a blood-alcohol level of .17, a Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority spokeswoman said.
Clifton told authorities he’d had seven to eight drinks before getting on the Fort Lauderdale-bound aircraft, the spokeswoman, Helen Tederous, said.
Clifton submitted to the test after telling police he needed to get his gun from the plane’s cockpit, Tederous said.
Pilots are permitted to carry firearms on planes if they’re certified to do so. Clifton’s status wasn’t immediately clear.
Tederous said Clifton, of Orlando, may face federal charges. It wasn’t immediately clear if he has a lawyer.
In a statement, Jet Blue said it was aware of the incident and fully cooperating with law enforcement. Clifton was removed from his duties while the airline conducts an internal inquiry, the company said.
“We adhere to all DOT rules and requirements concerning alcohol at all times and have a very strict zero-tolerance internal alcohol policy,” the statement added.
Federal regulations bar pilots from drinking while on-duty, if their blood alcohol level is greater than .04 or within eight hours of flying.
Jay Blackman and Tom Costello contributed.
Source: | This article originally belongs to Nbcnews.com
