Drunk airline pilot jailed for boarding flight

American was removed from plane after intending to fly transatlantic from Glasgow to New Jersey

An airline pilot has been sentenced to 10 months in prison after he admitted boarding a flight while over the legal alcohol limit.

Carlos Roberto Licona, from Texas, United States, was expected to fly as First Officer on a United Airlines flight to Newark, New Jersey, from Glasgow Airport.

Paisley Sheriff Court was told he was taken off the plane after security staff smelled alcohol on his breath.

Licona was also asked to give blood tests and breath samples before the flight on Saturday August 27 last year.

The flight took off later that day with a new crew and 141 passengers on board.

He was charged under section 93 of the Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003, which covers alcohol limits in aviation.

That section of the Act states: “A person commits an offence if he performs an aviation function at a time when the proportion of alcohol in his breath, blood or urine exceeds the prescribed limit, or he carries out an activity which is ancillary to an aviation function at a time when the proportion of alcohol in his breath, blood or urine exceeds the prescribed limit.”

Licona pleaded guilty to the offence and was given a reduced sentence of 10 months by Sheriff David Pender because of his admission.

A spokeswoman for Paisley Sheriff Court said: “He was given a 10-month sentence which was reduced from 15 months.”

A United Airlines spokesman said: “We hold all of our employees to the highest standards.

“This pilot was immediately removed from service and his flying duties in August 2016.”

We hold all of our employees to the highest standards. This pilot was immediately removed from service... UNITED AIRLINES SPOKESMAN

Pilot Carlos Roberto Licona, from Texas, was jailed for 10 months.