A Delta Airlines transatlantic flight to New York City was cancelled after the pilot allegedly failed a breathalyzer test and was subsequently arrested, according Swedish Police’s statement, report by local mediaThe pilot was taken into custody at Stockholm’s Arlanda Airport at 9.00 am local time on Tuesday under suspicion of intoxication, police spokesperson Nadya Norton told Aftonbladet, a Swedish daily newspaper. The publication identified the pilot as an American national.However, a Delta spokesperson told The Independent that “no pilot intoxication” occurred and said that she has been released from custody. “We continue to work with authorities to review what occurred,” the statement added.The Delta Air Lines flight 205, scheduled for a nine-hour journey to arrive in the US at 1 PM Eastern time, was cancelled. Aftonbladet confirmed the suspect as an American pilot.Despite the spokesperson denying allegations, Delta Air Lines issued a statement pledging full cooperation with authorities saying, “nothing is more important than the safety and security of our customers and people.”Swedish legislation permits fines or up to six months’ imprisonment for a “normal violation”. Severe cases with high blood alcohol levels can result in two-year sentences. US aviation regulations require pilots to observe an 8-hour “bottle to throttle rule”, prohibiting flying while under the influence or using substances that could “adversely affect safety”, as per Federal Aviation Administration guidelines.According to View From The Wing, passengers were eligible for £705 compensation due to the incident. The compensation, applicable to all passengers aboard the 226-seat Boeing 767-332, will cost Delta approximately £160,000, under European Union rule 261 covering significant delays. Additional expenses for accommodation, meals and connecting flight disruptions are separate from this compensation, VFTW states, as quoted by The Independent.European Union Aviation Safety Agency’s Regulation 2018/1042 requires random alcohol testing for flight and cabin crew operating from EU member states.
