According to a court statement Tuesday, a Delta Air Lines pilot who reported to work under influence of alcohol , has been sentenced to a 10-month jail term in Scotland.
A pilot will serve the jail term for attempting to fly a Boeing B767 aircraft from Edinburgh to New York whilst significantly over the legal alcohol limit, with previous DUI convictions and expressing remorse over his actions.
On that day, Capt Russell was found with nearly two-and-a-half times over the legal limit for alcohol in aviation. The incident occurred at Edinburgh airport when Russell was found with two bottles of Jägermeister in his hand luggage, one of which was half empty, during a bag search.
His blood alcohol level was high and clearly above the aviation maximum of 20mg per 100ml. Russell, who has two previous convictions for driving under the influence, was preparing to fly a Boeing 767 at the time of his arrest.
Scottish prosecutor Lynne Barrie said in a separate statement,
“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,”
“This conviction should send the message that crimes of this nature will be robustly dealt with,” Barrie said.
Russell, a recovering alcoholic, hadn't consumed alcohol for 277 days prior to the incident and had successfully completed a recovery programme.
Despite his recovery efforts and expressions of remorse, the court believed the risks inherent in his actions as potentially catastrophic, highlighting the safety breach and endangering the lives of occupants.
The procurator fiscal for Lothian and Borders underscored the seriousness with which such offenses are treated in the aviation industry, emphasizing the commitment to ensuring passenger and crew safety.
On the development, Sheriff Alison Stirling pointed out the high level of culpability in Russell's actions and the potential for grave harm, leading to the decision that incarceration was the only suitable punishment.
The ten-month sentence, that has actually been reduced from fifteen months due to Russell's early guilty plea, aims to underscore the critical importance of adhering to aviation safety and legal standards, especially concerning alcohol consumption.
After the incident, Russell “successfully completed” a recovery program at a rehabilitation center. He was diagnosed with severe alcohol use disorder but is now in remission, Stirling added, noting that Russell had expressed remorse and had the support of his family.
Delta said 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.
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