13 September 2025 , 18:53
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British Airways has suspended a pilot who made a plane return to the stand after becoming drunk while flying as a passenger.
The unnamed 51-year-old captain was disruptive on board a flight between Edinburgh and Heathrow on May 30.
A source told The Sun that cabin crew recognized the pilot who was acting ‘as if very drunk.’
She allegedly became so abusive to fellow passengers that the captain was informed of her behaviour and decided to cancel the take-off.
Despite ‘passionately’ resisting arrest, she was eventually detained, reportedly delaying the flight by an hour and a half.
The off-duty pilot was due to step into the cockpit of another aircraft after arriving at Heathrow.
She has since been suspended from flying with the airline.
A spokesperson for BA told Metro: ‘It would be inappropriate to comment during a police investigation.’
Police Scotland said a woman had been ‘arrested and charged in connection with aviation offences and assault.’
This comes weeks after a BA flight attendant was discovered high on drugs in an aircraft toilet.
A court heard that Haden Pentecost was found naked onboard the flight between California and London.
He was stood down by the inflight manager having failed to help carry out any pre-flight safety checks.
With a high heart rate and dilated pupils, Pentecost had to be monitored every 20 minutes until the flight touched down at Heathrow.
Pentecost, 41, was dismissed from the airline and pleaded guilty at Uxbridge Magistrates Court to performing an aviation function while impaired by drugs.
Technology & Business Editor