A pilot was taken into custody at Friday morning at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport on suspicion of being under the influence of alcohol.
According to WCCO-TV, the American Airlines captain was arrested by MSP Airport police at about 6:15 am.
The pilot was performing preflight checks on American Eagle flight 4590 to New York when someone noticed the smell of alcohol on his breath. Officers were contacted and the captain was removed from the plane after failing an alcohol Breathalyzer test.
The captain was taken to an area Hospital for blood alcohol tests en route to Hennepin County Jail.
American Airlines released a statement, saying: “American Eagle has a well-established substance abuse policy that is designed to put the safety of our customers and employees first. We are cooperating with authorities and conducting a full internal investigation. The pilot will be withheld from service pending the outcome of the investigation.”
The man of the pilot has not yet been released.
