A former Alaska Airlines pilot has been arraigned on charges of flying for a commercial carrier while drunk, the Justice Department reported Thursday.
David Hans Arntson, 60, recorded blood alcohol levels of .134 and .142 during two random tests administered by Alaska Airlines on June 20, 2014. The tests were taken after Arntson had landed from piloting an Alaska Air flight between Portland and Orange County's John Wayne Airport. Previously that day, Arnston had also flown an Alaska flight between San Diego and Portland.
Under federal law, a person flying a "common carrier," such as a commercial airline jet, is considered to be under the influence of alcohol if his blood-alcohol level is .1 or higher.
Arntson was arraigned Wednesday in federal court in Los Angeles, according to the Justice Department, and is free on $ 25,000 bond. He faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted.
"Those in command of passenger jets, or any other form of public transportation, have an obligation to serve the public in the safest and most responsible way possible," U.S. Attorney Eileen Decker said in a statement. "We cannot and will not tolerate those who violate the trust of their passengers by endangering lives."
In a statement Friday, Alaska said that it has a zero-tolerance policy for pilots and other employees who fail alcohol and drug tests.
"Mr. Arntson was immediately removed from duty. He refused to submit to an investigatory interview. Mr. Arnston left the company before we were able to complete an investigation that would have led to his termination,” the airline said.
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