The co-pilot who was accused of being drunk as he prepared for take-off from Detroit Metro Airport on March 26 could face a judge today.
The American Airlines flight bound for Philadelphia was cancelled and 50-year-old John Francis Maguire was removed from the plane and arrested.
The blood alcohol content level that defines being legally impaired to operate an aircraft is .04. That’s half of the legal limit for drivers. The Federal Aviation Administration rules state no person may operate or attempt to operate an aircraft "within 8 hours of having consumed alcohol, while under the influence of alcohol or with a blood alcohol content of .04 or greater."
Authorities say a TSA officer smelled alcohol on the co-pilot's breath as he was checking in.
Maguire is expected to go in front of a judge today for his arraignment. We're told Maguire is from Pennsylvania, so he could be arraigned via Skype.
