A pair of US Delta Air Lines flight attendants have failed a pre-departure alcohol test in Amsterdam and were removed from an international flight by Dutch officials.
According to airport officials, a random breathalyzer test conducted prior to Delta Air Lines flight from Amsterdam to New York’s JFK International Airport revealing that Delta’s female flight attendant had a blood alcohol level seven times above the legal limit for airline personnel, while her male counterpart registered a level of 0.02.
During a three-hour inspection period, police checked 445 pilots and flight attendants at Schiphol Airport, flagging three individuals.
General European civil aviation regulations forbid flight attendants from consuming alcohol, while the Netherlands has its own particular rule that bans alcohol consumption by the pilots and the cabin crew members within ten hours prior to a flight.
However, the European Air Safety Agency (EASA) cautions that merely following the guidelines on abstinence period does not ensure compliance with the legal standards regarding alcohol consumption.
In the United States, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) dictates a minimum of eight hours between alcohol consumption and flying, and mandates that employees be relieved of their duties if their blood alcohol concentration reaches 0.02 or higher on the required testing.
Dutch officials fined Delta Air Lines female employee €1,900 (about $2,000), and male flight attendant received a fine of €275 (about $290). Additionally, a flight attendant from a different airline was penalized €1,800 (about $1,900) for being 6.5 times over the limit.
A representative for the Atlanta-based airline stated that this incident did not impact the flight and after the said crew members were reassigned from their planned duties, the flight proceeded as scheduled.
“Delta’s alcohol policy is recognized as one of the most stringent in the industry, and we maintain a zero-tolerance stance regarding any violations.” the carrier’s representative added.
