Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Live Today

ASA Pilot Could Face Disciplinary Action

Aired July 29, 2002 - 11:05   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: And we move on with some alarming news for travelers. The FAA is checking today whether another pilot, this time it is Delta's regional carrier, ASA, tried to get in the cockpit when he was drunk.
Our Brian Cabell is following the story right here in Atlanta -- Brian.

BRIAN CABELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Daryn. We just got an update from Atlantic Southeast Airlines behind us. What they say is that is that this gentleman has not yet been suspended, as far as we can tell. He was never arrested. He lives here in Atlanta and he is back here in Atlanta awaiting an investigation -- the outcome of an investigation. What happened yesterday in Wilmington, North Carolina apparently is not much in dispute. He's the first pilot -- he tried to get on board a flight for Atlanta. This was early in the morning. He was the first pilot. Apparently someone -- one of the screeners there, a security screener, noticed something. They called him back. They had his black alcohol level checked. It turned out, they say to be .16, which is four times the allowable rate for flying.

Now, ASA tells us that they are awaiting final definitive results before they do anything with him. They say they have a zero-tolerance policy toward alcohol, and they say if it is proven true that he was trying to fly drunk, that he would face any number of disciplines, one of them including termination.

Of course, this is very similar to a case in Miami just about four weeks ago or so. America West pilots, two of them, got on board a plane. They were taxiing out there before they were called back. Their blood alcohol level determined to be intoxicated as well. They were fired from their jobs, their licenses revoked, and they are now facing trial, possibly as many as six years in prison if they are convicted.

But once again, nothing definite here yet. The ASA says they want to get definitive results from this blood alcohol test. Once they have those in hand, then they will determine what sort of discipline to mete out to this pilot, if any at all -- Daryn, back to you.

KAGAN: Yes, well, one thing is clear. If it does turn out that this guy was drinking before he planned on taking off, if you look at what has happened so far to the America West pilots, some very serious ramifications could be on the way.

CABELL: Yes, and it frightens the American public too. This is not the sort of thing that the airline industry needs, especially after 9/11. They have been suffering, and incidents like these are not helpful at all.

KAGAN: Yes. America West came out after this all happened and talked about their strict guidelines, that their pilots aren't supposed to drink within 12 hours. I think the FAA guideline is eight hours. I would imagine ASA and Delta Airlines have some similar standards.

CABELL: Yes. ASA says their guidelines are actually much more strict than the FAA guidelines, so anything close to what we are hearing, .16, this gentleman could be in serious trouble, if it is proven to be true.

KAGAN: Yes, and if it is proven to be true, I think "a gentleman" might be too kind of a word to use in future news reports. Brian Cabell here in Atlanta. Thank you very much.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com