The pilot was already in the cockpit of the plane, which is part of the Sunwing budget airline, but was arrested when the police men were alerted. The plane later left Calgary for Cancun, Mexico, with a different pilot.
There were more than 100 people on board.
Airline staff noticed the pilot behaving strangely, and then he passed out. They alerted the authorities who invited the police that subsequently led him out of the plane’s cockpit.
Information available said that two hours after the arrest of the drunk pilot, he was examined and was found to have more than three times the legal limit of alcohol in his body.
He has now been charged with being in charge of an aircraft while being impaired.
Calgary police spokesman, Paul Stacey said: “It had all the potential for a disaster but I’ll tell you this much – the likelihood of a pilot on a major airline like this actually being able to take off when they’re impaired like that is pretty slim, because there’s a lot of checks and balances.
“There’s the other flight crew and there’s gate crew and they’re all about safety.
“So, I’m not surprised that he got caught before (the plane) left the terminal.”
Mr Stacey confirmed however, that the arrested pilot “won’t be flying anytime soon.”
(BBC). [myad]
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