Pilot Dennis Thomas Murphy Jr. was yanked off Flight 584 on April 21, 2015, after it landed at JFK from Orlando, Fla., to take a “random” alcohol test, the complaint says. He was given a second test 15 minutes after that and blew a 0.091 BAC.
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His co-pilot later told investigators he observed Murphy “drinking an unknown beverage from a cup before and during” both flights.
Murphy, who appeared to be “chewing gum rapidly” on the way to the testing center, allegedly blew a. 111 during a breathalyzer test, according to the criminal complaint filed in Brooklyn federal court.
Murphy, from New Jersey, was released on a $50,000 bond. He has since quit JetBlue in what we imagine was one of those “You’re not firing me – I quit!” situations.
At that point, Murphy had piloted two flights between the cities already, for a combined total of 270 passengers, ABC News stated.
Murphy even reportedly asked authorities why he was being tested “so soon” after being hired and wanted to know why he was being tested for alcohol and not controlled substances.
According to the New York Post, a pilot with a blood-alcohol content of 0.04 or higher is considered to be under the influence by law.
A blood-alcohol reading of.
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JetBlue officials could not be immediately reached for comment on Wednesday. “Following last year’s incident, the crewmember was removed from duty and is no longer employed at JetBlue”. The case follows that of an Alaska Airlines captain who is scheduled to go on trial in July on federal felony charges that while drunk he flew a plane full of passengers from Portland, Oregon, to Orange County, California.
