(CMR) A JetBlue pilot was removed from the cockpit of a plane by police at Buffalo Niagara International Airport in New York on Wednesday after registering a blood-alcohol level of 0.17%, more than four times the Federal Aviation Administration's limit of 0.04%.
The pilot, who was to fly the plane to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, was passing through airport security when a Transportation Security Administration officer noticed he was behaving strangely.
The officer notified Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority police, who administered a breathalyzer test. He was taken into custody before being released to JetBlue security personnel.
The pilot, James Clifton (52), is being investigated for an attempt to resort to duty while under the influence of alcohol.
According to NPR, the FAA prohibits pilots from consuming alcohol while on duty or within eight hours of performing flight duties. FAA regulations also prohibit pilots from flying or attempting to fly an aircraft if their alcohol concentration is 0.04% or greater, which is half the legal limit in the U.S. of 0.08%.
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