NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- A JetBlue co-pilot accused of being under the influence of alcohol was pulled from his aircraft Wednesday morning at Buffalo International Airport, the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority said.
James Clifton, 52, could face federal charges for attempting to fly the plane while intoxicated.
JetBlue spokesperson Derek Dombrowski said Clifton has been “removed from his duties,” the company is cooperating with law enforcement and conducting an internal investigation.
JetBlue flight 2465 was scheduled to depart at 6:15 p.m. and arrive in Fort Lauderdale, Florida at 9:30 a.m., but the flight didn’t land until after 1 p.m. due to the sudden co-pilot swap.
A TSA worker first noticed that the pilot seemed to be intoxicated, according to the NFTA, who were notified by the TSA. Clifton was then removed from the cockpit and given a breathalyzer test.
Clifton registered a Blood Alcohol Level of 0.17.
Pilots have a legal maximum of .04 BAC to fly, which is half the limit of .08 for drivers.
Even blowing higher than .02 BAC can lead to a temporary removal from duties on a plane.
"The safety of JetBlue’s customers and crewmembers is our first priority," the Queens-based airline said in a statement. "We adhere to all DOT rules and requirements concerning alcohol at all times and have a very strict zero tolerance internal alcohol policy. We are aware of the incident that occurred this morning in Buffalo and are cooperating fully with law enforcement. We are also conducting our own internal investigation. The crewmember involved has been removed from his duties."
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