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Co-pilot accused of being drunk
By JENNIFER LEARN-ANDES
jandes@leader.net
AIRPORT INVESTIGATION
PITTSTON TWP. - A Vacation Express pilot is under investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration and police on evidence of trying to fly under the influence of alcohol, Pittston Township police say.
The flight captain noticed the co-pilot was acting odd as they prepared for the Wednesday morning flight from the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport to Myrtle Beach, said James Gallagher, president of Vacation Express parent company, Aviation Technologies.
The captain persisted in telling the co-pilot he didn't seem capable of flying, and after a half hour of discussion and as passengers started boarding the plane, the co-pilot voluntarily removed himself from the aircraft and decided to call in sick, Gallagher said.
Vacation Express arranged to bring in a back-up crew and decided the co-pilot would not fly, Gallagher said.
In the meantime, the co-pilot returned to the airport, attracting suspicion from an FAA inspector, Gallagher said. The inspector thought the co-pilot "didn't look right," he added.
Following FAA procedures, the inspector contacted Pittston Township police to test the co-pilot, who Gallagher declined to name.
The co-pilot was handcuffed and escorted to a hospital for testing, Gallagher said.
Township police Chief Stephen Rinaldi, who is recuperating at his home from a brain operation, said the co-pilot underwent a Breathalyzer test but refused a urine test. Three vials of blood were taken from the pilot, he added.
Test results will be investigated by police, the Luzerne County detectives' office and the FAA, Rinaldi said.
The investigating police officer could not be reached for comment Wednesday afternoon regarding the results of the Breathalyzer, the name of the co-pilot and whether charges are likely to be filed.
Gallagher said the co-pilot cannot fly again until the FAA clears him. He would not speculate on whether he believes the co-pilot was under the influence of alcohol.
"This pilot is furloughed from American Airlines. It's a shame because his career is certainly going to be hurt by this," Gallagher said.
FAA spokeswoman Arlene Salac said her office investigates any police reports of a pilot with a blood alcohol level of 0.04 or above. For comparison, an adult driver in Pennsylvania is considered intoxicated at 0.08.
Salac would not talk about this specific case, saying she can't comment on any investigations until they are completed.
The FAA doesn't have criminal authority but has civil authority to impose fines and/or suspend/revoke the pilot certificates that are required to fly aircraft, Salac said.
The Myrtle Beach flight was delayed four hours and 15 minutes because the back-up pilot had to travel here from Charlotte, N.C., Gallagher said.
Vacation Express bought the 57 passengers a free meal, and none canceled their flight, Gallagher said.
"This is our first major delay since Easter Sunday. We had 36 days of on-time performance," Gallagher said. "We followed our procedure and took off with a safe aircraft, and that's what we're supposed to do."
The Easter delay was related to an aircraft problem.
Airport Director Barry Centini said he hopes the experience doesn't tarnish Vacation Express, because airport officials have taken a risk by investing heavily in marketing the facility to boost ridership.
Vacation Express has been credited for a 19 percent increase in the number of people who boarded planes in March at the airport.
Airport officials dipped into their own reserve and have spent $150,000 this year to market Vacation Express, which offers low-cost, non-stop charter flights to Orlando, Fla., and Myrtle Beach, S.C., at economy prices.
"The airline reacted quickly and did what it was supposed to do. That's a good thing," Centini said.
Jennifer Learn-Andes, a Times Leader staff writer, may be reached at 831-7333.
By JENNIFER LEARN-ANDES
jandes@leader.net
AIRPORT INVESTIGATION
PITTSTON TWP. - A Vacation Express pilot is under investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration and police on evidence of trying to fly under the influence of alcohol, Pittston Township police say.
The flight captain noticed the co-pilot was acting odd as they prepared for the Wednesday morning flight from the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport to Myrtle Beach, said James Gallagher, president of Vacation Express parent company, Aviation Technologies.
The captain persisted in telling the co-pilot he didn't seem capable of flying, and after a half hour of discussion and as passengers started boarding the plane, the co-pilot voluntarily removed himself from the aircraft and decided to call in sick, Gallagher said.
Vacation Express arranged to bring in a back-up crew and decided the co-pilot would not fly, Gallagher said.
In the meantime, the co-pilot returned to the airport, attracting suspicion from an FAA inspector, Gallagher said. The inspector thought the co-pilot "didn't look right," he added.
Following FAA procedures, the inspector contacted Pittston Township police to test the co-pilot, who Gallagher declined to name.
The co-pilot was handcuffed and escorted to a hospital for testing, Gallagher said.
Township police Chief Stephen Rinaldi, who is recuperating at his home from a brain operation, said the co-pilot underwent a Breathalyzer test but refused a urine test. Three vials of blood were taken from the pilot, he added.
Test results will be investigated by police, the Luzerne County detectives' office and the FAA, Rinaldi said.
The investigating police officer could not be reached for comment Wednesday afternoon regarding the results of the Breathalyzer, the name of the co-pilot and whether charges are likely to be filed.
Gallagher said the co-pilot cannot fly again until the FAA clears him. He would not speculate on whether he believes the co-pilot was under the influence of alcohol.
"This pilot is furloughed from American Airlines. It's a shame because his career is certainly going to be hurt by this," Gallagher said.
FAA spokeswoman Arlene Salac said her office investigates any police reports of a pilot with a blood alcohol level of 0.04 or above. For comparison, an adult driver in Pennsylvania is considered intoxicated at 0.08.
Salac would not talk about this specific case, saying she can't comment on any investigations until they are completed.
The FAA doesn't have criminal authority but has civil authority to impose fines and/or suspend/revoke the pilot certificates that are required to fly aircraft, Salac said.
The Myrtle Beach flight was delayed four hours and 15 minutes because the back-up pilot had to travel here from Charlotte, N.C., Gallagher said.
Vacation Express bought the 57 passengers a free meal, and none canceled their flight, Gallagher said.
"This is our first major delay since Easter Sunday. We had 36 days of on-time performance," Gallagher said. "We followed our procedure and took off with a safe aircraft, and that's what we're supposed to do."
The Easter delay was related to an aircraft problem.
Airport Director Barry Centini said he hopes the experience doesn't tarnish Vacation Express, because airport officials have taken a risk by investing heavily in marketing the facility to boost ridership.
Vacation Express has been credited for a 19 percent increase in the number of people who boarded planes in March at the airport.
Airport officials dipped into their own reserve and have spent $150,000 this year to market Vacation Express, which offers low-cost, non-stop charter flights to Orlando, Fla., and Myrtle Beach, S.C., at economy prices.
"The airline reacted quickly and did what it was supposed to do. That's a good thing," Centini said.
Jennifer Learn-Andes, a Times Leader staff writer, may be reached at 831-7333.
