Erwin Vermont Washington Drunk Pilot: United Pilot Arrested After Failing Breathalyzer Before London-To-Chicago Flight

LONDON — A United Airlines pilot who was pulled from his trans-Atlantic flight to Chicago shortly before takeoff has been charged with having too much alcohol in his system, British police said Tuesday.

Scotland Yard said that 51-year-old Erwin Vermont Washington, of Lakewood, Colorado, was arrested after officers were called to United Airlines Flight 949, which was already full of passengers and due to leave London's Heathrow Airport just after noon on Monday.

BAA, Heathrow's operator, said the plane had been due to leave imminently. A BAA spokesman quoted by Britain's Press Association news agency added that the pilot had been reported to authorities by another member of United's staff. BAA did not immediately return a call from the AP seeking comment late Tuesday.

It was not immediately clear how much alcohol Washington was accused of having consumed. Under British law, pilots are forbidden from having any more than 20 micrograms of alcohol for each 100 milliliters of blood in their system, or .02 percent. For most average-sized men, that is the equivalent of having just had about half a glass of regular strength beer.

Scotland Yard said that Washington, who has been released on bail, would have to appear at a court in northwest London on Nov. 20. If convicted, he faces up to two years in prison, a fine, or both.

United Airlines spokeswoman Megan McCarthy said Washington, who she did not identify by name, has been removed from service pending an investigation. She said her airline had strict rules on alcohol "and we have no tolerance for violation of this well-established policy."

She declined to say how long Washington had worked for the airline.

McCarthy said that the flight was canceled and that the plane's 124 passengers were put on other flights.

Monday's incident bears a strong resemblance to the arrest in May at Heathrow of an American Airlines pilot – also scheduled to fly a plane to Chicago – after he failed a breath test. Airport security staff had alerted airport police about the pilot.

In January, Southwest Airlines put a pilot on leave after passengers at a security checkpoint in Columbus, Ohio, told authorities that he smelled of alcohol. The pilot ran into a restroom and changed out of his uniform jacket and called in sick.

Union leaders say pilots are under increased scrutiny by security agents and passengers because of high-profile cases involving drunk pilots.

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Associated Press Airlines Writer David Koenig in Dallas contributed to this report.

Comments

[pomegrante]

I am an ex-flight attendant, random screening always happened. Hopefully he is okay and can continue flying.

[prettybutterflies]

It should be standard procedure that all pilots take a breathalizer BEFORE flying any plane.

[mamacat]

Someone else already said it, but it is worth repeating: thank goodness Sully didn't have a drink before taking off on that historic flight.

[veronicasavasbeatie]

Joe Balzer can relate to the recent news about 3 different pilots showing up to work while under the influence, because he already lived it - 20 years ago, when he was one of three Northwest pilots arrested, tried, and convicted for flying a commercial airliner while intoxicated. Today, Joe is a recovering alcoholic and pilot for American Airlines, and author of the new book Flying Drunk. His mission now is to educate people about the warning signs and dangers of alcoholism, and keeping airplane passengers safe. If you would like to learn more about Joe and his book Flying Drunk, please visit www.flyingdrunk.com or http://www.savasbeatie.com/books/FlyingDrunk_book.htm.

[Cogs]

Letting his drinking do his thinking.

[dak101]

My wife and I were on United 949 this past July 20th, when it caught fire over the Atlantic. We were prepared for a water landing, but just made it to Iceland, where we spent the night until they could send us a rescue plane. The pilots were in gas masks and goggles. My wife and I said out good-byes to each other. One flight attendant was crying.

While I'm not at all sure the two incidents have any kind of cosmic connection, methinks that avoiding United 949 is not the worst idea in the world.

[dak101]

In the third line of my post, "out" should have been "our".

[altara]

Too drunk to use his laptop?

homer www.altara.blogspot.com

[dans5843]

This pilot could sleep it off at 30,000 feet while the co-pilot watches porn on his lap top.
So what's wrong with this?

[studmoose]

What's wrong with this world, now?

No more bottle to the throttle?

[BeefJerky]

I remember that rule well: 8 hours between bottle and throttle.

[MajorKong]

I can't believe somebody would risk their livelihood over a beer.

[jsarets]

Livelihood? I figured you would be one to know that commercial airline pilots often make less than fast food managers and have been known to receive food stamps or work a second job during their regulated "sleep" time to make ends meet.

As skilled professional jobs go, airline pilots get a raw deal, and we get what we pay for...

[MajorKong]

The job doesn't pay what it used to, but a United Captain flying international makes $150,000+ and a United First Officer flying international makes $100,000+

http://www.airlinepilotcentral.com/airlines/legacy/united.html

[brady61995]

alcoholism controls the person, like lobbyist control our congress

[Thaigold]

My LAPD buddy told me that on Friday and Saturday nights, almost 30% of the drivers are under the influence - and because of this, they contribute to 30% of the accidents.
Duh - the questions begs; why not arrest the other 70% of sober drivers?

[learntofly]

So, Pilots aren't routinely screened? This pilot was pulled because somebody told security he was loaded? And the other pilot just happened to be reeking of alcohol going past a secured checkpoint? There is a big link missing in airport security here.

[MajorKong]

We're randomly screened.

[learntofly]

Thanks, Major.

[janedoe31]

Quote: "For most average-sized men, that is the equivalent of having just had about half a glass of regular strength beer." That was the quote from the article. My question: why would someone risk a career for a 1/2 glass of beer ...he deserves the arrest out of stupidity.

[BlueKansas]

This is SO disturbing. My husband takes that flight about three times a year.

[mamacat]

He was arrested for FUI? Are they going to start arresting surgeons for operating under the influence? Where will this attack on free enterprise and capitalism stop? I tell you, it brings tears to my eyes, to think what these socialists are doing to our country!

[isaidit]

Yep. And this discrimination against high flyers, it's just not right.