'Drunk' Flybe pilot arrested minutes before take-off

A short flight from Newquay Airport in Cornwall to London Gatwick was grounded in scenes that say the pilot arrested.

By Dave Lancaster |

17:14 30 October 2014

A Flybe pilot has been arrested on suspicion of being over the limit prior to flying a passenger plane.

The unnamed aviator was set to pilot a flight from Newquay Airport in Cornwall to London Gatwick but a fellow crew member raised concerns.

Police arrived minutes before the flight was due to take off whereby they removed the captain from the plane to take him for a breath test.

A Devon and Cornwall Police spokesman said: "A 48 year old man from Crediton, Devon, was arrested on suspicion of being over the drink drive limit."

One passenger said: "We all got on the plane and then there was an announcement. We were told the pilot was unwell."

It all resulted in a five hour delay with at least one passenger missing a connecting flight to Mexico in the aftermath.

A Flybe statement added: "Flybe can confirm that one of its pilots volunteered to help police with their inquiries at Newquay Airport.

"Flybe is not able to comment further while the police investigation is taking place."

A Civil Aviation Authority put the drink/fly limit into perspective: "For pilots the blood/alcohol level is 20 milligrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood. For context, the UK drink drive limit is 80mg per 100 millilitres."