Two pilots arrested over alcohol fears

TWO PILOTS are due to appear in court today after being arrested on suspicion of being under the influence of alcohol as they prepared to fly a transatlantic passenger jet from Scotland to the USA.

Concerns were reportedly raised over the pilots before the 9am United Airlines UA162 flight to Newark, New Jersey, was due to depart from Glasgow Airport on Saturday. Police said the two men – aged 35 and 45 – were arrested and detained in police custody.

The flight, carrying 141 passengers, eventually took off on Saturday evening with a new crew on board. The men are expected to appear at Paisley Sheriff Court today.

The incident follows the appearance in court last month of two Canadian pilots charged with being drunk as they prepared to fly a passenger jet from Scotland to Toronto. Jean-Francois Perreault, 39, and Imran Zafar Syed, 37, were arrested on July 18 before they were due to take off on the Air Transat flight from Glasgow Airport.

The men were remanded in custody when they first appeared at Paisley Sheriff Court. At a second hearing at the same court, they were granted bail on condition they surrender their passports.