Drunk Pilot Costs Delta $140K: Shocking Twist?

A Delta Airlines pilot scheduled to operate Flight 205 from Stockholm to New York JFK was arrested on July 22 after failing a breathalyzer test moments before takeoff, leading to the cancellation of the flight.

The arrest occurred at Arlanda Airport during a police operation at 9:15 AM. Swedish media reported that the pilot was a woman from the United States.

Under European Union regulation EU261, each of the 198 passengers on board is entitled to €600, or about $705, in compensation due to the cancellation. This totals approximately $139,590 in mandatory payouts, not including additional expenses like hotel accommodations and missed connections.

This is not the first alcohol-related incident involving Delta crew. Last fall, two Delta flight attendants failed breathalyzer tests before a flight out of Amsterdam.

In 2023, a Delta captain was arrested for intoxication before a flight. Other airlines have faced similar problems: a JetBlue pilot in 2022 blew a .17 on a breath test, far exceeding the FAA limit of .04, and a United flight from Glasgow was once delayed due to an intoxicated crew.

Although U.S. regulations require at least eight hours between a pilot’s last drink and flight duty, many argue this is insufficient. Critics believe even trace amounts of alcohol in a pilot’s system are unacceptable given the responsibility involved.

Later reports suggest the initial test may have been a false positive and the pilot has since been released. Regardless of the outcome, passengers are still legally entitled to EU261 compensation.