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Cops arrest entire drunk crew from Ukraine airline
We've occasionally written about a captain being pulled from his plane for being over the legal drinking limit, but arresting the entire crew for being drunk? Pretty sure that is a first. The airline in question is Ukraine based carrier Donbassaero. When local police acted on a tip, they boarded the Yak-42 plane and measured alcohol levels between 0.075 and 0.052 in every member of the crew - flight attendants, pilot and flight engineer. The legal limit in the Ukraine is 0.02.
The airline issued the following statement:
The flight was scheduled to fly from Simferopol to Kiev with 86 passengers and was just several minutes away from its departure time. The passengers ended up leaving for Kiev almost 12 hours late. The incident caught the attention of the federal government who have promised a full investigation."The exact causes behind the long delay in the departure of the plane are being investigated, after which Donbassaero's management will take adequate measures".
Gallery: Ten pilots you don't want in your cockpit
Filed under: Ukraine
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
u07ch Mar 11th 2010 4:10PM
if the limit was .2 why were they in trouble they were WAY under; or is a higher number better ?
Scott Carmichael Mar 11th 2010 4:11PM
Wooops! Missed a zero there. Thanks for catching that!
jay best Mar 12th 2010 3:07PM
.075 is almost 4 times .02
FRED Mar 12th 2010 4:15PM
u07ch
Mar 11th 2010 4:10PM
if the limit was .2 why were they in trouble they were WAY under; or is a higher number better ?
========================================================
LEARN TO READ BEFORE YOU TRY TO SHOW YOUR INTELLEGENT LEVEL
JD Mar 12th 2010 5:14PM
Fred, maybe you should learn proper English before you show YOUR "INTELLIGENCE" level. I hate morons that pick on people when they are just as stupid, themselves.
rottielover73 Mar 12th 2010 4:56PM
hey u07ch better read the article again. the limit is .02 not .2 and they were between .052 and .075, which is 2 1/2 - to almost 4 times the limit
nemo Mar 12th 2010 9:38PM
"Learn to read before you show your intellegent level"--this is brilliant. You really showed him how to be *intelligent" by demonstrating your own *intelligence*.
u07ch Mar 12th 2010 5:03PM
I'm getting abuse because the article was wrong and I questioned it - nice; Scott corrected it after my comment -- he even thanked me...
I should have your job Mar 12th 2010 8:25PM
I proof read before I print ANYTHING . Poor job if it was in my power you would be unemployed . Deservedly so .
Tom Mar 12th 2010 2:10PM
Hey...on Aeroflot they open a bottle of bubbly every time they make a safe landing!
Recce1 Mar 12th 2010 7:34PM
Tom, if you think Aeoflot is unsafe, you should fly with the Chinese. A navigator friend of mine was with a Chinese crew as an observer (required at the time in the US) when they engaged the thrust reversers before touchdown. He said it was a quite a rough landing and that the crew said it was standard procedure due to short runways used in China.
martian Mar 12th 2010 2:50PM
Guess that gives new meaning to (Fly the friendly skies).
jaybro Mar 12th 2010 2:53PM
Ever been to the Ukraine? You'd stay drunk too - even if you were a friggin' librarian.
Annie Mar 12th 2010 4:40PM
Yes I've been to Ukraine. They are a very hard working people. I went to visit 3years back and all my parents relatives and friends were not drunk all the time. They seemed to be like everyone else. An occasional drink here and there but nothing excessive. They have a farm. Some of my cousins live in the city. They seen to drink more.
Moonstone Mar 12th 2010 2:58PM
Just another reason NOT to fly!!!!!!!!
Norman Prevatte Mar 12th 2010 3:01PM
In 1996 I quit my air travel when I read an intellignce report that said the Human Intelligence side of the CIA was being eliminated. I've only flown 3 times since then. The dangers involved are centered around a politically correct security system that can easily be over come by the persistent terrorist who has assets in place to assist his/her efforts.
Flying used to be the "safest way to fly". I no longer trust that system. I do not think it will be safe for many years, so I only fly when it is absolutely necessary. My wife and I have a fast and efficient (made in America) Nissan Xterra that gives 23 mpg on the highway, and is an excellent all-weather ride.
Have a super day.
Norman Prevatte
Stafford, VA
alberto Mar 12th 2010 3:30PM
they were NOT DRUNK, as your captivating title states. they had alcohol in there system which we all agree is over the limit. Blood alcohol levels below .8 are legal in florida to drive a car so they are not drunk like your article states!!!!!!!
jeff Mar 12th 2010 3:37PM
It is .08 not .8. it was dropped from .1 =1/10 0f 1%
Chris Mar 12th 2010 4:46PM
Alberto,
In Florida (and in all 50 states) the legal BAC to operate an airplane is .04.
So yes, they were legally drunk, even in Florida.
rottielover73 Mar 12th 2010 5:20PM
Alberto
yes for people who drive cars it is .08. but for people that drive buses, big rigs, or pretty much that you have to have a special license for that limit drops for these people because they are held at a higher standard. Most states level for these types of people is at .04, which is half of what a person with a normal license can operate with. Mostly this is because the vehicles are heavier and can do a whole lot more damage than a regular automobile. And as far as the airliners go carrying as many people as they do i would expect even that level be even lower for them with as many lives as they have in their hands in the air.