Southwest pilot charged with intoxication

A Southwest Airlines pilot has been formally charged with intoxication, specifically the operation of a common carrier while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

The Associated Press names the airman as 41-year-old Carl Fulton of Fort Worth. He was supposed to co-pilot Southwest Flight 136 from Salt Lake City (SLC) to Phoenix (PHX) on Sunday morning (July 9) when a Transportation Security Administration screener reported smelling alcohol on his breath. Fulton was taken from the 737’s cockpit and arrested.

According to AP, court documents state that the pilot told federal air marshals he drank two beers and a vodka, but that he had stopped drinking at 10pm on Saturday.

An hour after he was taken off the aircraft a breathalyzer test showed his blood alcohol level at .039 percent. Court documents indicate that such a reading was “mathematically not possible” if he had consumed just three drinks a day earlier.

FAA regulations prohibit a pilot from flying within eight hours of drinking alcohol, and prevents them from flying when their blood alcohol level is .020 percent or greater.

First Officer Carl Fulton is on paid leave from Southwest right now, pending the results of an internal investigation. That means he’s not in the cockpit.

© Cheapflights Ltd Jerry Chandler