United Air Lines says it has suspended a 51-year-old pilot after he was arrested in London for allegedly reporting for work drunk Monday. A spokesman for the London Metropolitan Police told Reuters the pilot was released on bail pending completion of alcohol tests. The pilot was arrested at Heathrow Airport but it's not clear whether he was on board or was stopped before getting on the aircraft or whether he was the aircraft commander.
The pilot was among 11 crew and 124 passengers scheduled to take a Boeing 767 from Heathrow to Chicago as Flight 949. The flight had to be cancelled and the passengers got to Chicago on other flights. United spokeswoman Megan McCarthy said the airline is cooperating with the London police and conducting its own investigation. "United's alcohol policy is among the strictest in the industry, and we have no tolerance for violation of this well-established policy," she said.
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