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Drunk American Airlines pilot blames "strong European beer"

by Scott Carmichael (RSS feed) on Aug 16th 2009 at 11:00AM

The career of distinguished Amercian Airlines pilot Joseph Crites came to a screeching halt last May, when he was removed from his plane at Heathrow airport, a mere 15 minutes before departure, when local police smelled alcohol on his breath.

Staff on his Chicago bound flight had alerted the police, and an initial breathalyzer test showed a 37mg/100ml reading - when the maximum reading for being allowed to fly a plane is 9mg/100ml.

On Friday, Mr. Crites was sentenced in a UK court, and was handed a £1,500 fine, plus £300 in court costs. The normal sentence is jail time, but Mr. Crites had a spotless record, and the court received glowing references from his colleagues.

During the trial, the pilot put the blame on the "unknown European beers" he had consumed, and claimed they must have been "stronger than he normally drinks".

He had his last drink before arriving back at his hotel at 11:30pm the night before, and it takes quite a decent amount of booze to reach his blood alcohol levels.

It is very sad to see such an impressive career come to an end over a couple of beers, but someone with his experience should have known better.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)

Jack Aug 17th 2009 2:27PM

I'm sorry, but this seems like a _very_ apologistic article for someone who could of killed hundreds of people through sheer stupidity and/or a cavalier attitude to his responsibilities. And really that's being kind and taking his word for it.

He should be in jail for attempted manslaughter if you ask me. A $3500 fine or so is much less then you'd pay for a DUI in most states. And you'd be in jail for at least a night. As a "distinguished" guest...

Jack

middleclass Aug 17th 2009 10:01PM

My brother is a pilot for American. I want you to know one thing. The majority of professional pilots would never have a drink within 24-48 hours.

Most pilots are filled with fear of being accused of drinking or doing drugs, they won't even use mouthwash. Again, the vast majority are serious, and I do mean "serious" about the safety of their passengers and take their career seriously.

The fellow in this article, is no different than many other people. He could be your child's bus driver, school teacher, a cop, a fireman, a doctor, a nurse, ALL WHOM HAVE OUR LIVES IN THEIR HANDS.

Please do not paint a broad picture of all pilots. I can tell you, this happens rarely, but it does and will happen because human beings are not perfect, and sometimes are extremely selfish. Is this guy an alcoholic?

Dudley Haas Aug 18th 2009 4:22AM

I agree with the pilot. Beers all have different strengths. Some punch you in the nose, while others knock your ass flat on the ground. I still have a knot the size of a goof ball on my 4-head and it's affected my bowling game. My bald head doesn't roll as smoothly down the lane. It rumbles, tumbles & grumbles and my game has gone to hell as a result. I've been so depressed that I haven't even felt like ironing the wrinkles out of my face's face these past few weeks. I think I'll have another beer before we head off to the Olive Garden and watch Minister Damn cut up his speggetti (a little off zee top). That always seems to help!

Dave Aug 20th 2009 9:01AM

Not surprising. For the last 10 years, airline employees have seen their pay cut by fifty percent, have had their pensions liquidated, have been laid-off, and suffered a long list of other hardships. The current recession that everyone is whining about? Airline employees have been dealing with one for ten years, post 9/11. A few weeks ago, there was an article on MSN regarding flight crew members living in trailers in an LAX parking lot. Very few who posted responses to the article had sympathy for the poor living conditions. That is what the airline profession has come to; not suprisingly, it could lead one to drink. Alot. Lastly, the next time you see an airline earnings report come out, note the loss. You will notice that every single passenger will have had his/her ticket subsidized by the airline and all of it's employees, with no govt. help, intervention, assistance, etc. You may feel outrage over the pilot who had too much too drink; I feel genuine sympathy for a man who has safely flown millions of passengers safely in his career, and had a lapse of judgement. Of course the public deserves and expects sober, well-rested, and alert pilots. However, as in everything else in life -without exception- you get what you pay for.

fkurtin Aug 17th 2009 8:14PM

oh ya lets fly the friendly skies.

What Cra Aug 17th 2009 8:29PM

One bourbon, one scotch, and one beer.

CAL10PILOT Aug 17th 2009 8:53PM

OH WELL, GLAD TO BE RETIRED..... I DRINK WHEN EVER AND WHERE EVER I WANT, AND I GET INTO THE SAME BED EACH NIGHT AT THE SAME TIME, AND WAKE UP THE SAME TIME.... I WONDER HOW MANY WOULD CRACK IF THEY WOKE UP ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE PLANET AS I HAVE DONE SO MANY TIMES. CHECK IT OUT, HNL - TLV

Marshall Aug 17th 2009 8:40PM

I read about the story a long time ago. If I was to fly the next day, I would just
have a bottle of water or some ice tea,watch some t.v. set my alarm clock and
then go to bed.

agb1953 Aug 17th 2009 8:52PM

Guns don't kill people. Beer does.

Angel Aug 17th 2009 9:02PM

FAA Regulations state that no pilot may be in command or even act a crewmemember within 8 hours of consuming ANY alcohal. Along with all the other regulations governing pilot fitness when taking command of an aircraft...
He will loose his license and never fly again, not even if he owned his own aircraft. He should be punished more harshly than that for putting his own selfish desires above the lives of a planeful of innocent people.

whirple Aug 18th 2009 4:23AM

you can't even spell "lose" why should anybody listen to you?

George V. Williams Aug 20th 2009 3:52PM

Well said. I wish we could put your comment in front of EVERY 'professional' pilot in the country. Of course, we'd then have to force them to read it.

Steve Aug 17th 2009 9:24PM

Yeah he shouldn't of flown for sure, but you guys don't even know how many beers he had, or what kind of person he was. Why pass judgment on something you don't know jack about?

mack Aug 17th 2009 9:29PM

Should the guy have been drinking? probably not.
How easily could his claim that the beer is stronger make sense?
Well lets see. Assuming european beer is twice as strong as
american beer (probably true). Five beers the night before would
be sufficient for him to have the tested BAC 9 hours later.
The same five american beers would have left him stone cold
sober the next morning. This guy was sober enough to drive in
every state in the US. And at less than half the legal limit in most of
them. His career is over. I don't think the fine was that 'easy'
considering he is now unemployable in his field.

keith Aug 18th 2009 12:45AM

Some European beers are stronger than American. Some American beers are stronger than European beers. The difference, in all but a few very unusual cases is mostly minimal -- changing from 5% ABV to 6% ABV. I am brewer and a Master Beer Judge. There are numerous exceptions, but no one will mistake a Barley Wine for a Miller Light. This is simply a very poor excuse of an excuse to getting caught.

Chuck Aug 17th 2009 9:29PM

And not only that, the beer bought itself and forced me to drink it.

LtlHugo Aug 17th 2009 9:43PM

I was under the impression that pilots were not allowed to have any alcohol 8 hours or there abouts before a flight. Also I honestly feel that pilots should not be drinkers at all, too many lives are in their hands.

A Pilot's Wife Aug 18th 2009 3:42AM

8 hours ? I think it states 50 feet from the aircraft in my husband's manual LOL j/k! Without knowing ALL the facts, you shouldn't cast judgement on this man. He is paying the price by public humiliation and career termination. With all those years behind him he probably felt he was ok to fly. That doesn't give him the right to do it, if he drank within 8 hours of flying, then he should have been terminated and fined. There is nothing wrong with a pilot having a drink or drinks when they are off duty ( on their consecutive days off) as long as it falls within the FAA guidelines. In my husband's defense, he doesn't drink hardly at all even when not on duty and he would never have that much to drink the night before flying. There is just too much room for error. Not only that, but alcohol in your system doesn't allow you to get R.E.M. sleep. The sleep that allows your body the required rest and rejuvination.