Trans States Airlines to pay USD11,000 drunken passenger fine

Airline Industry Information, Oct 29, 2004

AIRLINE INDUSTRY INFORMATION-(C)1997-2004 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD

Trans States Airlines has said that it will pay a fine of USD11,000 imposed upon it after federal authorities said that it had allowed a drunk off-duty pilot to fly on board a passenger flight and disrupt it.

The off-duty pilot was allowed onto the St. Louis-Pittsburgh flight by Trans States Airlines crew despite the fact he was clearly drunk, according to the authorities. The pilot proceeded to disrupt the flight so much that as it taxied for takeoff it had to return to the gate so that the man could be removed.

The pilot was dismissed by the airline, along with the crew member who allowed him on board, after the incident which took place in February 2004. The Federal Aviation Administration accused the airline of breaking federal regulations which forbid airlines from allowing drunk passengers on board aircraft, reports the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

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