Pilot spared jail despite being over legal alcohol limit to fly passenger jet

A VETERAN airline pilot who was almost three times over the legal alcohol limit to fly a jet when he tried to take off from Heathrow Airport with 124 passengers on board was spared jail yesterday.

Erwin Washington, 51, was stopped at Heathrow when cabin crew smelt alcohol on his breath just after noon on 9 November last year.

He was due to fly a Boeing 767 to Chicago in the United States when he was breathalysed on board the United Airlines flight. He was charged with excess alcohol after failing the breath test.

Isleworth Crown Court yesterday heard that Washington, from Lakewood, Colorado, was an experienced airline captain who had also served in the US air force in every conflict between 1984 and 2005. However, Judge Sam Katkhuda criticised the growing number of pilots appearing in court charged with excess alcohol as he gave Washington a ten-month suspended jail sentence.

He warned United Airlines any other pilot found to be over the limit would face prison. The judge said: "This type of behaviour by a pilot of an aircraft is regarded as a very serious matter indeed.

"It's sad to see a man of your experience and background before a court for a criminal offence. The rules regarding the consumption of alcohol by pilots who are on duty are there for a purpose and those rules must be obeyed."