Delta Air Lines Pilot Sentenced to Jail for Showing Up to Work Drunk
A Delta Air Lines pilot, Lawrence B. Russell Jr., was sentenced to 10 months in jail after pleading guilty to showing up for work with a half-empty bottle of Jägermeister in his luggage and a blood alcohol level more than two times the aviation limit. The incident occurred on June 16 when Mr. Russell was scheduled to fly a Boeing 767 from Edinburgh International Airport to Kennedy International Airport in New York City.
According to authorities, Mr. Russell arrived at baggage control wearing his pilot’s uniform but was rejected by the X-ray scanner when two bottles of Jägermeister were found in his bag, one of which was opened and nearly half full. He failed a breath test and was arrested after admitting to drinking the previous evening. A blood test revealed he had a blood alcohol level of “not less than” 49 milligrams in 100 milliliters of blood, well above the aviation limit of 20 milligrams.
Mr. Russell, who has a history of alcohol use disorder but was in remission after completing a recovery program, lost his job after the incident and was receiving half his salary on long-term disability leave. Despite this, he plans to apply for a new medical certificate after completing his sentence in hopes of being reinstated as a pilot.
Delta Air Lines, aware of the incident, removed Mr. Russell from service and conducted a thorough investigation in coordination with Scottish authorities. It is unclear if Delta will rehire him in the future.
In sentencing Mr. Russell, Sheriff Alison Stirling noted his remorse and early guilty plea but stated that “custody is the only appropriate disposal, having regard to the serious nature of your offending.” Under federal law, pilots must wait up to one year after being convicted of a drug or alcohol offense to apply for a Federal Aviation Administration license or other certificate.
