ARMED AIRTRAN PILOT ACCUSED OF DRUNKENNESS, FIRED Add guns to drinking, and you have worries, but add flying too, and you have potential disaster. Thus when a federal security screener at McCarran Airport in Las Vegas, Nev., smelled alcohol on an armed AirTran pilot last Wednesday, police quickly descended. They questioned him, gave him a breath test and removed him from the cockpit. Oliver Paul Reason Jr., 37, was fired from his flying job and also suspended from his duties as a federal flight deck officer. Tracy Price, an airline pilot and an advocate for guns in the cockpit, told reporters the greatest danger is not a drunk pilot with a gun, but a drunk pilot with an airplane. "The issue is making sure a pilot who is irresponsible with alcohol is never, ever given access to an airplane," said Price.This message has been edited. Last edited by: BF,
Posts: 2583 | Location: USA | Registered: Sun April 07 2002
I had this titled incorrectly when I said he was illegally carrying a firearm. Apparently the pilot had gone through the rigorous program that allows pilots to carry guns on aircraft post 9/11.
Posts: 2583 | Location: USA | Registered: Sun April 07 2002
Cecil, not sure if you stop by anymore but this is the kind of situation that makes one wonder about the wisdom of allowing pilots to carry guns while on duty!
Posts: 2583 | Location: USA | Registered: Sun April 07 2002