American pilot admits drink charge
An American pilot has admitted turning up to fly out of Heathrow Airport while over the alcohol limit.
Erwin Washington, 51, of Lakewood, Colorado, had been due to captain a Boeing 767 bound for Chicago with 124 passengers on board and 11 crew members when a colleague smelled alcohol on his breath.
He pleaded guilty at Uxbridge Magistrates' Court on Tuesday to being above the alcohol limit for flying a plane.
The United Airlines pilot was arrested at Heathrow on November 9 last year. The Boeing 767 departure to Chicago was "imminent" when police arrived.
A breath test showed Washington was more than three times the limit allowed to fly a plane.
He recorded a reading of 31 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath - the legal limit being nine micrograms.
A blood test further revealed he had 50 milligrams in 100ml of blood. The limit for pilots is 20 milligrams. In comparison, the legal limit for driving a car is 80 milligrams.
Chris Humphreys, defending, said Washington was "remorseful for events".
He will be sentenced at Isleworth Crown Court on February 5.
He was released on unconditional bail.
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