A Delta Air Lines pilot was remanded in custody at Edinburgh Sheriff Court today after pleading guilty to reporting for duty as a pilot while being impaired through drink or drugs, it has been reported by the BBC.
Lawrence Russell, 63, failed a breath test at the airport on 16th June last year after he turned up to fly a Boeing 767 to New York. His blood sample later showed the alcohol level was "not less than 49mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood". The legal limit is just 20mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood.
According to reports, Russell's belongings were searched by airport security officers on the morning of 16th June and he was found to have two bottles of Jägermeister in his luggage - one of which was half full.
Sheriff Alison Stirling deferred the sentence to later this month for the preparation of reports.
Following Russell's arrest last June, the flight to New York had to be cancelled leaving customers' travel plans in chaos and the airline facing a hefty bill to reaccommmodate passengers and crew.
Delta has refused to comment on the case at this stage.
