News

Actions

Pilot charged with being drunk before flight from Detroit

Posted at 2:34 PM, Mar 28, 2016
and last updated 2016-03-28 14:34:45-04

DETROIT (AP) — A 50-year-old American Airlines co-pilot who was grounded on suspicion of drunkenness at an airport near Detroit has been charged with operating under the influence of alcohol.

The Wayne County prosecutor’s office said John Maguire was charged Monday with the misdemeanor stemming from a Saturday morning incident at the Detroit Metropolitan Airport. Maguire, who authorities say lives in Pennsylvania, is suspected of having a blood-alcohol level above the legal limit.

He was detained and held from a scheduled flight from Detroit to Philadelphia that was cancelled.

Maguire was released pending an arraignment, which hasn’t been scheduled. Prosecutor’s office spokeswoman Maria Miller didn’t immediately respond to an email message asking if he has an attorney.

Airlines officials have said they are assisting investigators.