Airline praises pilot who stopped drunk co-pilot from flying
Fri., Aug. 26, 2016
TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. – A charter airline is praising a pilot who blew the whistle on a co-pilot he suspected of being drunk before a plane was scheduled to take off from an airport in northern Michigan.
Traverse City police Capt. Kevin Dunklow says a breath test Thursday showed the co-pilot had a blood-alcohol level of 0.30, nearly four times the legal threshold for driving.
Talon Air says the co-pilot has been fired. The company based in Farmingdale, New York, says it’s “very proud” of airline Capt. Manny Ramirez, who discovered the problem.
The plane didn’t leave Cherry Capital Airport in Traverse City.
Separately, an American Airlines co-pilot accused of trying to fly while drunk pleaded no contest Wednesday at a Detroit-area court. He was placed on probation.
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