A 63-year-old pilot, Captain Lawrence Russell Junior, has been convicted by a US court for reporting for duty while under the influence of alcohol. The incident occurred at Edinburgh airport in June 2023 when Captain Russell was caught with two bottles of alcohol in his hand luggage, one of which was half empty.
Captain Russell was arrested, and subsequent tests revealed that he had 49mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood, which exceeded the permissible limits in the US. He pleaded guilty to the charge of reporting on duty drunk.
In sentencing, Judge Alison Stirling imposed a ten-month imprisonment on Captain Russell, stating that the sentence was necessary for punishment and the protection of the public. The judge also noted that Captain Russell had previously been convicted twice for driving under the influence of alcohol.
During the court hearing, Captain Russell's defence advocate, Pamela Rodgers, described her client as remorseful and a recovering alcoholic who had abstained from alcohol for 277 days and completed a recovery rehabilitation programme.
In response to the conviction, procurator Lynne Barrie emphasized the seriousness of Captain Russell's actions, stating that his conduct endangered the lives of many and could have had catastrophic consequences. Barrie underscored the importance of robustly dealing with crimes of this nature to send a clear message.
The conviction of Captain Russell serves as a reminder of the significant responsibility held by pilots of commercial aircraft and the potential risks posed by impairment while on duty.
