In a recent court statement from the Judiciary of Scotland, Lawrence Russell Jr., a 63-year-old American pilot employed by Delta Airlines, was sentenced to 10 months in prison for arriving to captain a transatlantic flight from Edinburgh to New York’s JFK airport on June 16, 2023, with a blood alcohol concentration above the legal limit.
The court disclosed that Russell had two bottles of Jägermeister liqueur in his luggage, one of which was half-empty, prompting police intervention after he was seen in his pilot’s uniform.
This incident led to the cancellation of the flight and Russell’s subsequent dismissal from Delta Airlines. In response to the situation, a Delta spokesperson stated, “Delta was aware of this incident and removed the pilot from service while conducting a thorough investigation in coordination with Scottish authorities.” Delta also issued an apology to the travelers affected by the cancellation.
Details of the Incident Revealed in Court
During the sentencing, Sheriff Alison Stirling highlighted the seriousness of Russell’s actions, noting the presence of the Jägermeister bottles in his bag and the failure of a breath test conducted on the morning of the flight.
Despite Russell’s claim of drinking the night before, his blood sample confirmed alcohol levels above Scotland’s legal limit for piloting, which is set at 20 milligrams, in contrast to the 50 milligrams limit for driving.
Reduction of Sentence Due to Early Guilty Plea
The court took into account Russell’s status as a recovering alcoholic who had completed a treatment program post-incident and is currently in remission. His legal representation pointed out his early guilty plea on March 5, which contributed to a reduced sentence from the potential 15 months to 10 months.
The court also acknowledged Russell’s two previous driving under the influence incidents, while noting his lack of prior convictions in Britain.