(DailyExpertNews) — According to an airport press release and a statement from JetBlue, a JetBlue pilot was “released from duty” at Buffalo Niagara International Airport Wednesday morning after it was determined that his blood alcohol level was “twice the legal limit.”
James Clifton, 52, was going through security when a TSA agent “saw that he may have been wronged,” according to the press release.
The Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority police responded and the pilot was given a breathalyzer. After recording a blood alcohol level of 0.17, Clifton was taken into custody and released to JetBlue security, the airport said.
The blood alcohol limit for pilots is 0.04, according to the FAA, which means that the pilot’s blood alcohol level was more than four times the legal limit under FAA regulations.
Clifton admitted he had “5-6″ [drinks] the night before at dinner,” according to a police report obtained by DailyExpertNews.
JetBlue said in a statement that they have a strict zero-tolerance internal alcohol policy, are cooperating with authorities and are conducting their own internal investigation into the matter.
“We are aware of the incident that occurred in Buffalo this morning and are fully cooperating with law enforcement,” said JetBlue’s statement. “The crew member concerned has been relieved of his duties.”
The Air Line Pilots Association union did not comment on the specific incident when DailyExpertNews reached out to it for comment, but said in a statement that “the pilot profession is one of the most researched careers in North America and that the professionalism of airline pilots has contributed making air transportation the safest mode of transportation for passengers and shippers of air cargo.”
Clifton is from Orlando, Florida. The plane he would fly was headed for Fort Lauderdale, Buffalo Niagara International Airport said in a press release.
