AirBaltic Boeing 737 Pilots Arrested for 'Alcohol Abuse' Before Takeoff

Two pilots of a Boeing 737 passenger jet were arrested for suspected "alcohol abuse" before they were due to take off in Norway, their airline said.

They were scheduled to fly 109 passengers on a four-hour journey from Oslo to the Greek island of Crete on Saturday when they were taken off the flight and into custody.

Two of the three cabin crew aboard the airBaltic jet were also arrested on suspicion their blood-alcohol was over the legal limit, the airline said in a statement. The third crew member has not been accused of any wrongdoing.

"Four out of five crew are under initial suspicion for alcohol abuse," the statement said. "They are now undergoing a careful medical examination to determine the actual blood alcohol levels."
Janis Vanags, a spokesman for the Latvian airline, told NBC News that the carrier immediately sent a replacement crew and the flight took off at 10:41 a.m. local time (4:41 a.m. ET) after a delay of four hours and 45 minutes.

Vanags said the airline had a "zero tolerance policy" and that the crew had been suspended pending the criminal investigation. "Safety is our number-one priority," he added.

-NBC News

Step-by-Step First Time Traveler Guide - Why and What really happens at Airport Check-In ?

• Airport Check-in - Why do we need a Check-in service and what happens during the process.

Check-in Counters at an Airport Terminal

• The very word Airport and Aeroplane rings a bell in the minds of a first time traveller. He is apprehensive of all the facts including all he has to do at an airport before he gets on to the Aircraft and finally to his destination. There is a saying that goes as " The First impression is the Last impression". As rightly said it is indeed True. The very process starts when a Flight Ticket is bought of Airline, preferably that of airline whose name is taken in high esteem for its overall customer service. It is important for a first time traveller to read through the rules and regulation on the Ticket, besides it is also important that he looks up the airlines website and go through the many need to know information that is mentioned therein.

• At the airport on the check-in you will get to see a smartly dressed check-in staff, he /she will greet you with a smile. He/She then takes you ticket but before the check-in process is initiated there will be a few questions asked. It is important to Listen and understand the questions. As a passenger you need to know your entitlements. You need to be very observant of the activities that the check-in agent. The ticket is checked for details such as Name of passenger, Flt No, Sector of travel, Class of travel and the Fare calculated. Once this formality is done you are check-in and your baggage is added to your name. The bags are then tagged, during the tagging of the bags you need to ensure that the right baggage is being tagged. At the end of this the check-in agent hands over the boarding pass with your baggage tags pasted to it. The bags are then released to the BMA (Baggage Make-up Area). The bags are then reconciled and transported to be loaded into the aircraft. He/she then circles the certain elements on the boarding pass, they are the Boarding time, Seat no and the Gate No. You are briefed about the carriage of permissible and non permissible articles in your hand baggage. In the event of a First time traveller you are guided to the passenger boarding area by a CSA (Customer Service Agent). While you are being escorted there are many instructions given and that needs to be understood well. It is at this place you observe many a behavioral activity of the airline staff while you wait for the boarding of the flight.