AN American airline pilot who was found to be almost two and a half times the alcohol limit before he was due to fly has been jailed for 10 months.
Lawrence Russell Jr, 63, was set to fly a Boeing 767 from Edinburgh to New York last year when he was caught with alcohol in his system.
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Security staff at Edinburgh Airport searched Russell Jr’s luggage and found that he had two bottles of Jäegermeister in his bag on June 16, 2023.
Today, Russell Jr was sentenced at Edinburgh Sheriff Court after pleading guilty to reporting for duty as a pilot while being impaired through alcohol.
Russell Jr, a captain with Delta Airlines, was about to fly the plane, which was full of passengers, when one of the bottles of alcohol was opened and found to be “half full”, the court was told.
Russell Jr, who was wearing a pilot’s uniform and wore a lanyard with the word “Delta” printed on it, admitted he was the owner of the alcohol.
Police were subsequently contacted and Russell Jr was arrested following a failed breath test.
He was taken to Livingston police station where a blood sample was taken.
It showed that Russell had not less than 49 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood.
This exceeded the legal limit which is 20 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood.
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Russell Jr was remanded in custody after pleading guilty on March 5.
Following the pilot’s arrest last June, the flight to New York was cancelled and Delta Airlines confirmed all the passengers were being helped with their travel plans.
The fiscal depute said when the pilot was cautioned and charged he told officers “I’m terrified”.
Lawyer Pamela Rogers, defending, previously provided the court with a medical report of the treatment Russell Jr has been receiving for his alcoholism.
She said he was “under no illusion” to the seriousness of the offence.
Today, Lynne Barrie, Procurator Fiscal for Lothian and Borders, said: “Lawrence Russell’s conduct would have endangered many lives; the consequences could have been catastrophic.
“He showed a reckless disregard for the safety of his passengers and crew.
“The pilot of a commercial aircraft holds the lives of hundreds in his hands.
“He would have put all of them at serious risk.
“This conviction should send the message that crimes of this nature will be robustly dealt with.”
Delta Airlines has been approached for comment.
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