American Airlines pilot arrested for showing up drunk before flight(Photo)

A copilot for American Airlines was arrested at Detroit Metro Airport today on suspicion of being drunk, forcing authorities to cancel a flight this morning to Philadelphia.
According to the Detroit Free Press, the copilot, failed a Breathalyzer test administered by police who had been called to the airport's North Terminal about 6:40 a.m., according to airport spokesman Michael Conway.


Police were called after Transportation Security Administration personnel reported that the copilot, who is from Pennsylvania, was acting as if he had been drinking when he passed through airline crew security screening before the flight was scheduled to leave, Conway said.


Conway called the situation "extremely unusual." He said it remains an open investigation, but that police are developing the case to turn over to prosecutors for possible charges. The copilot, who Conway said was 50 or 51, was initially in custody but released after his alcohol level dropped.