FLEEIN’ DRUNK
Second shamed pilot jailed for trying to fly airliner after boozing
THE second of two airline pilots caught trying to fly a transatlantic jet out of Glasgow after a drinking bout has been jailed for 10 months.
American Paul Grebenc, 35, was more than twice the flying limit from the night before when he arrived for the 9am take-off.
He pled guilty and was sentenced yesterday at Paisley Sheriff Court. His colleague Carlos Licona, 45, got the same sentence on March 10.
The United Airlines pilots were driven to the airport from Glasgow’s Hilton Hotel on August 27 last year for the Boeing 757 flight to Newark. Both were due to serve as first officers.
But as they went through a staff search area, security workers smelled alcohol on Licona’s breath.
Police were called and went to the gate. They were also suspicious of married dad-of-two Grebenc and asked both men to get off the aircraft.
Grebenc, a former US Air Force tanker pilot who is still a reservist, gave a positive breath test and was taken to Govan police station.
He later gave a blood alcohol reading of 42. The limit for flying is 20. The jet, which had 141 passengers, was delayed for nine hours before taking off with a new crew.
Defence lawyer David McKie said Grebenc admitted “a significant misjudgment” and wanted to apologise to passengers and the court.
Mr McKie said that at the time of the incident, Grebenc was under pressure after a family argument. Doctors had also found a shadow on his young son’s lung and cancer was feared.
But he said his client knew how serious his offence had been.
He added: “He recognises he ought to have stopped drinking at an earlier point that evening. His failure to do so will have catastrophic consequences for him, his career and for his family.”
United Airlines said Grebenc was removed from flying duties after the incident. Mr McKie said his employers, along with the US aviation authorities, had placed him on a rehabilitation programme.
Texan Grebenc’s wife Emily, a US Air Force pilot, was with him at court.
He knows this will have catastrophic consequences for him, his career and his family DEFENCE LAWYER