A Delta Air Lines captain from Georgia has been sentenced to 10 months in jail following his arrest last year in Scotland for being twice the legal limit for alcohol for pilots before reporting for duty for a transatlantic flight.
Captain Lawrence Russell, 63, was stopped in Edinburgh Airport wearing his pilot’s uniform and a Delta Airlines lanyard after an X-ray machine rejected his carry-on luggage as he went to board a Boeing 767 from the Scottish capital city to New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport on June 16.
Prosecutors said he jeopardised “hundreds of lives” and showed “reckless disregard” for safety after he admitted a charge of reporting for duty as a pilot while being impaired through alcohol.
Russell, from Georgia in the US, was rostered to fly the jet to JFK Airport – but was found to be two-and-a-half times the alcohol limit after a breath test at 9.30am.
An opened bottle of Jagermeister was spotted in his carry-on luggage, along with another which was half-full, prompting concerns.
Russell admitted being the owner, and a sample of blood was taken which showed he had around 49 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood.
He pleaded guilty at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on March 6 to reporting for duty as a pilot while being impaired through alcohol, contrary to the legal limit of 20 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood.
Delta spokesman said Tuesday that Russell is no longer employed by the company.
“Delta was aware of this incident and removed the pilot from service while conducting a thorough investigation in coordination with Scottish authorities,” the airline said.
Delta canceled the flight as a result and passengers were rebooked on other departures.
The airline said last year it has no tolerance for violation of its alcohol policy, which it called among the strictest in the industry.
Russell was sentenced to 10 months at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Tuesday.
Lynne Barrie, Procurator Fiscal for Lothian and Borders, said: “Lawrence Russell’s conduct would have endangered many lives; the consequences could have been catastrophic.
“He showed a reckless disregard for the safety of his passengers and crew. The pilot of a commercial aircraft holds the lives of hundreds in his hands. He would have put all of them at serious risk.
“This conviction should send the message that crimes of this nature will be robustly dealt with.”
