Flying Under the Influence

ByABC News
March 21, 2007, 5:03 PM

LONDON, March 21, 2007— -- An American Airlines pilot is fighting in a British court to keep his job.

James Yates, who hails from Ohio, is accused of attempting to perform his role as first officer on an American Airlines Boeing 767 flight while testing almost seven times over the legal alcohol limit.

Yates, 46, was arrested at Manchester Airport last February as he was about to board a Chicago-bound American Airlines flight carrying 181 passengers.

He was to be one of three pilots on the plane -- the minimum number that U.S. federal regulations require on transatlantic flights of more than eight hours.

"Police arrived, and the defendant smelled strongly of intoxicants, alcohol, and he was asked to provide a specimen of breath," prosecutor Martin Walsh told the court. "He provided a specimen of breath and it was positive."

It is not common practice to test pilots for alcohol when they report to work.

American Airlines spokesman Tim Wagner told ABC News, "We do not have a daily screening policy for our pilots, but we do screen them regularly, as is the industry practice, and we hold our employees to the highest standards."

"I wouldn't get on the plane if I knew a pilot was drunk. I wouldn't put my life in the hands of someone under the influence on any form of transport," said Ronald Wohlman, the global creative director of Lowe Worldwide who takes an average of four international flights a week. "They should test pilots before they let them on the plane."

Security officers stopped Yates as he was searching for his security pass to enter the gate. An airport security officer testified Monday that Yates looked intoxicated. A Breathalyzer determined that the pilot was 6½ times over the legal limit for flying an aircraft.

Yates was taken to a Manchester Police Station where he underwent further alcohol testing.

Meanwhile, the flight was delayed and had to make an unexpected landing in New York so that an additional pilot could replace Yates.