Cops say a pilot was found slumped unconscious in the cockpit of a Mexico-bound Boeing 737 at Calgary’s airport Saturday, with a blood alcohol level more than three times the legal limit.
Staff Sgt. Paul Stacey of the Calgary police traffic section said the 37-year-0ld Slovakian national, in Canada on a work visa, boarded the Sunwing aircraft with 99 passengers and five other crew members aboard just after 7 a.m., and his behaviour was unusual enough that the airport gate crew notified the co-pilot.
“The co-pilot went and found the pilot in the cockpit, presumably preparing for the pre-flight. We were called and then we took that pilot into custody,” he said.
“He was showing signs of impairment, enough so that the gate crew were concerned and then they found him actually slumped over in the pilot’s seat.”
Stacey said the pilot, the flight’s captain, was removed and taken to the traffic office to be tested. The veteran cop said he still registered an “extreme level” of impairment some two hours after he was ushered off the plane.
However, despite the pilot’s condition, Stacey said it’s unlikely the pilot would have had the chance to take off.
“It had all the potential for a disaster … but the likelihood of a pilot on a major airline like this actually being able to take off when they’re impaired like that is pretty slim because there’s a lot of checks and balances,” he said.
“Obviously this one had a very significant potential to cause great harm had the pilot actually been allowed to fly this plane.”
In a statement, Sunwing said the plane took off a short time later with another captain, bound for stops in Regina and Winnipeg before jetting south to Cancun.
“We are very appreciative of our crew’s diligence in handling this very unfortunate matter,” the statement read, in part.
“We are very apologetic for any upset that this has caused and would like to assure our customers that safety remains our utmost priority.”
Stacey said the pilot has been charged with having care and control of an aircraft while being impaired, and having care and control of an aircraft while over the legal blood-alcohol limit of 0.08. His name has not yet been released pending an appearance before a justice of the peace.
However, Stacey noted he may face further charges from Transport Canada.
“I fully expect that there will be additional charges,” he said.
Transport Canada could not be reached for comment Saturday.
Calgary Herald
