Delta pilot over alcohol limit before Edinburgh to New York flight

An American airline pilot was caught over the alcohol limit before he was due to fly a Boeing 767 full of passengers from Edinburgh to New York.

Lawrence Russell, 63, was searched by airport security officers at about 08:00 on 16 June last year.

He was found to have two bottles of Jägermeister in his luggage - one of which was half full.

Russell, a captain with Delta Airlines, was later arrested following a failed breath test.

The pilot was remanded in custody at Edinburgh Sheriff Court after pleading guilty to reporting for duty as a pilot while being impaired through drink or drugs.

The court heard the alcohol level in the pilot's blood sample was "not less than 49mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood". The legal limit is just 20mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood

Fiscal depute Matthew Millar said when Russell, from Georgia, was cautioned and charged he told officers "I'm terrified".

Lawyer Pamela Rogers, defending, provided the court with a medical report of the treatment Russell has been receiving for his alcoholism and said he was "under no illusion" to the seriousness of the offence.

Sheriff Alison Stirling deferred sentence to later this month for the preparation of reports.

Delta Airlines have been contacted for comment.