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Airline Pilot From Lakewood Accused Of Being Drunk

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Nov 11, 2009 7:06 pm US/Mountain

Airline Pilot From Lakewood Accused Of Being Drunk

Colorado Man Charged By British Authorities; Scheduled To Fly To Chicago's O'Hare

 Comment: ShareYour Thoughts On This Story On Gloria Neal's Blog
(AP/CBS4) A United Airlines pilot who failed a breath test shortly before he was due to take off has been charged with having too much alcohol in his system, British police said.

Erwin Vermont Washington, 51, of Lakewood, Colo. is the third U.S. pilot in 13 months to be arrested for being over the strict alcohol limits imposed on airline staff.

Washington was arrested after officers were called to United Airlines Flight 949, which was already full of passengers and due to leave London's Heathrow Airport just after noon on Monday.

A spokeswoman for BAA Airports Ltd., Heathrow's operator, said late Tuesday the pilot had been reported to authorities by another member of United's staff. She spoke on condition of anonymity, saying it was company policy.

It was not immediately clear how much alcohol Washington was accused of having consumed. Under British law, pilots are forbidden from having any more than 20 micrograms of alcohol for each 100 milliliters of blood in their system, or .02 percent. For most average-sized men, that is the equivalent of having just had about half a glass of regular strength beer.

Reports indicate it took an hour for Washington to be coaxed out of the cockpit after being reported to police for suspected drinking.

Ramey Becker was on her way back to Denver from a meeting in Ireland and was seated in business class on the plane.

"Someone from the airline made a short announcement that there was a medical emergency and so we would be delayed a little bit," Becker said.

She only learned that the pilot had been arrested upon her return to Denver.

"I was surprised, very surprised when I saw that but also relieved that someone at United had the good sense that the pilot smelled of alcohol and to do something about it," Becker said. "So for that I am grateful."

Scotland Yard said that Washington, who has been released on bail, would have to appear at a court in northwest London on Nov. 20. If convicted, he faces up to two years in prison, a fine, or both.

United Airlines, a subsidiary of Chicago-based UAL Corp., said the pilot had been removed from service pending an investigation.

Monday's incident echoes the arrest in May of an American Airlines pilot -- also at Heathrow and also scheduled to fly a plane to Chicago -- after he failed a breath test. In October 2008, another United Airlines pilot was arrested by police for being over the alcohol limit.

Union leaders say pilots are under increased scrutiny by security agents and passengers because of high-profile cases involving drunk pilots.

A telephone message left at Washington's Colorado home wasn't immediately returned Wednesday.

Washington attended the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs from 1979 to 1983. He played on the basketball team, ranking in the top five for career assists and personal fouls and ranking 33rd on the career scoring list with 904 points. His nickname was "Silk."

Washington has several traffic violations in Colorado, but nothing related to drinking.

(© 2010 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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