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CNN Live Today

ASA Pilot Not Yet Suspended

Aired July 29, 2002 - 12:17   ET

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

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: The FAA and Atlantic Southeast Airlines are investigating now the pilot who was pulled off a flight earlier yesterday because he allegedly was drunk. The airline says it has a zero-tolerance policy for pilots and alcohol, but it is awaiting the results of further tests before taking action. CNN's Brian Cabell joins us now with the latest on this -- hi, Brian.
BRIAN CABELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Kyra. The name of the pilot has not been released yet by the ASA, but we know that he is based in Atlanta, he is back in Atlanta, and he has not been suspended as of yet, pending the results of this investigation. ASA says they are undertaking a second investigation right now. As you indicated, a zero-tolerance policy for ASA. The first test, CNN has learned, came back .16, which is pretty seriously intoxicated, four times the allowable level if you are going to fly a plane. The word from Wilmington Airport yesterday morning was that this co-pilot tried to get on board his plane yesterday around 6:00 AM, 27 people on board, but a security screener noticed something was not quite right, they thought, so he was not allowed on board that plane. That is when he was called back, and that is when he was given the breathalyzer test. Of course, very similar case in Miami just about three or four weeks ago. America West pilots, two of them, got on board their plane, but then they were called back, they were given breathalyzer tests. They came back with levels that indicated that they were intoxicated.

So again, very serious. They have been -- they are losing their licenses at this point. They have also been fired from their jobs there, also facing trial.

We've also gotten some statistics back from the FAA indicating, perhaps, a slight rise in incidents like this. In the year 2000, there were nine alcohol violations for commercial pilots. The year 2001, again nine, but this year so far, prior to these last two incidents, seven. Seven plus these two would make nine, and again, Kyra, we are only into the month of July, seven months in, so perhaps a slight increase, we don't know. Perhaps the evidence of some sort of trend, a rather frightening trend, as a matter of fact -- back to you.

PHILLIPS: Yes it is, Brian. One is already too many. Brian Cabell thank you very much.

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