Pilot arrested after failing breathalyzer test

Last Updated 2:26 p.m. ET

MINNEAPOLIS An airport spokesman says an American Eagle pilot preparing for takeoff has been arrested after failing a blood-alcohol test at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.

Spokesman Patrick Hogan says witnesses alerted airport police that the pilot smelled like alcohol before he boarded the plane.

CBS Station WCCO reports that the captain was performing preflight checks on American Eagle flight 4590 to New York when someone noticed the smell of alcohol on the pilot's breath.

Officers were contacted and the captain was removed from his plane after failing an alcohol Breathalyzer test.

The captain was taken to Fairview Southdale Hospital for blood alcohol tests en route to Hennepin County Jail.

The pilot, Kolbjorn Jarle Kristiansen, of Raleigh, N.C., was later released on his own recognizance.

A spokesperson for the FAA confirmed the incident to CBS News, and said it is investigating the incident.

Passengers had not yet boarded the flight to La Guardia, New York City.

American Eagle is owned by American Airlines.

American Airlines spokesman Matt Miller says the pilot has been suspended pending an investigation, and that the airline is cooperating with authorities.

In a statement the airline said, "American Eagle has a well-established substance abuse policy that is designed to put the safety of our customers and employees first."

[qsmco12]

I'm not sure why this guy was arrested? According to DOT regulations, if he had a breath alcohol that was .04 or greater he would have been taken out of service and most likely suspended, and then had his pilot credentials revoked until he sucessfully when through a rehabilitation program. I've never heard of someone being arrested like this before? The FAA would have juristiction over this, correct?

[petesis]

Those bug smasher contract short hop carriers are looking for warm bodies to fly the grueling schedule they run to make a profit.... not exactly ex Navy fighter jocks flying those things.

[joesapper]

Quake 7.7 hits Alaska , only 3.5 miles deep , High wave action expected

[FormerUSMCSergeant]

"American Eagle has a well-established substance abuse policy that is designed to put the safety of our customers and employees first."
----
Which obviously didn't work in this case as authorities had to be called in....

[lorne46]

Another brilliant news article not grammar and spell-checked before being posted. The pilot was preparing for takeOFF, not takeOUT. There was nothing in the article about a food service vendor showing up in the cockpit.

[wskowalski]

yes I noticed that as well. Surprisingly though,the text was correct. He was waiting for some fried rice and eggroll. So it's a good thing he was caught because eating takeout while under the influence is very dangerous.....

[RodneyPhD]

Okay CBS News fact checkers.....get it right. They just said that a 0.04% blood alcohol would be achieved by drinking "2 beers." LOL My understanding is that two beers would get you to about .20 (if drank in under one hour).

[lipreader1]

Rodney, not sure where you got your PhD. Maybe you weigh 10 pounds or so, but I wouldn't hit .20 at 2 six packs, let alone 2 beers. For reference, at .40 most are unconscious, at .50 most are dead.

[ojossogood]

He may lose his employment with American Eagle.

[ojossogood]

He may lose his employment with American Eagle.

[foo8259]

No alcohol for 24 hours is the FDA rule or suggestion: faa.gov/pilots/safety/pilotsafetybrochures/media/alcohol.pdf

[ttipbc]

The teaser headline on cbsnews.com says "...pilot preparing for takeout..." - what kind? - Chinese, Japanese, Mexican, or just a burger from McDonald's? Should he really be eating just before a flight? Sometimes I get sleepy after a meal....Come on cbsnews.com, do you not employ ANY editors to check this stuff before you post it?

[nonpolitico]

Well spotted TTIPBC!
Although a pilot actually blind drunk would indeed be a threat, the more rules made by officials on personal choices the more stupid our country will become.
As a modern jet as soon as it attains cruising altitude is put on auto pilot, the fact that a pilot had alcohol before take off would surely be ameliorated (especially on long haul), as crews drink copious amounts of coffee inflight!
Or are some health freaks gonna BAN COFFEE TOO??
Perhaps all Senators and Members should be "routinely tested" for alcohol too? After all "Drunk in charge of a Country" seems serious, maybe more dangerous than in control of a plane!!!
Seriously, as very soon all planes will probably be automated fully pilots could well be there for decorative reasons only in a short time!
What then for the `Crats to mess with??