American Airlines Pilot Cleared Of Alcohol Use

DALLAS — American Airlines says a pilot removed from a flight to Mexico passed an alcohol test.

American spokeswoman Andrea Huguely said Thursday it's a personnel matter and the airline is continuing an investigation.

The flight Wednesday from Dallas-Fort Worth to Cancun was delayed more than four hours as the airline brought in a new pilot, who then had to wait out thunderstorms before taking off, Huguely said. She declined to identify the pilot.

Federal Aviation Administration rules prohibit pilots from consuming alcohol within eight hours of a flight and from flying with a blood-alcohol level of 0.04 percent or higher. FAA spokesman Lynn Lunsford said the agency only gets involved if pilots test positive for alcohol.