Florida DUI Defense Lawyer :: Pilot Arrested for DUI in Minneapolis

January 22, 2013

An American Eagle pilot preparing for takeoff was arrested earlier this month for DUI after he allegedly failed a blood-alcohol test at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.

An airport spokesman claims witnesses alerted airport police that the pilot smelled like alcohol before he boarded the plane.

According to reports, the captain was performing preflight checks on the American Eagle flight to New York when someone apparently noticed the smell of alcohol on the pilot’s breath.

Passengers had not yet boarded the plane.

After allegedly failing a Breathalyzer test, the captain was removed from the plane.

The pilot was taken to a local hospital for blood alcohol tests and then transported to Hennepin County Jail.

He was later released on his own recognizance.

The FAA is investigating the incident.

According to American Airlines, the owner of American Eagle, the pilot has been suspended pending an investigation.

Unlike motor vehicle collisions, airplane crashes almost always result in fatalities. Because of this, pilots are held at higher standards than motorists, especially when it comes to operating a plane, or attempting to operate a plane, under the influence of drugs or alcohol. A pilot DUI can affect your pilot’s license, so if you are a licensed pilot and are arrested for a DUI in Florida, you must act fast and retain the help of a Florida DUI Attorney at Whittel & Melton to make sure that your rights as a motorist and as a pilot are protected.

The Federal Aviation Administration controls the activities of pilots and regulates licensing. The FAA has the ability to revoke, suspend, or cancel your pilot’s license for a “motor vehicle action,” which includes a DUI conviction or even administrative action that results in your driver’s license being suspended or revoked.

FAA regulations dictate that a pilot may not fly an aircraft within 8 hours after consuming alcohol. The FAA forbids pilots from flying an aircraft, attempting to fly a plane or from becoming a crew member if their blood alcohol is greater than 0.04 percent, despite whether 8 hours has passed. By violating this rule, your pilot’s license can be suspended or revoked.

The issues surrounding a pilot DUI are quite complex. A pilot is subject to random drug and alcohol testing at any time and must comply with Florida DUI laws as well as FAA laws governing alcohol consumption, BAC levels and reporting requirements. Due to the intricacies associated with a pilot DUI, it is best to enlist the help of a Florida DUI Lawyer at Whittel & Melton who can help you fight your DUI charges and report them properly to the FAA. The smallest mistake can result in immediate and permanent suspension of your license. Contact us online or call us statewide and toll-free at 866-608-5529 to begin receiving the legal help you need today.