EDINBURGH, UK — A now-former Delta Air Lines pilot learned his sentence after he pleaded guilty to being drunk before flying passengers from Scotland to New York City.
Lawrence Russell, a now-63-year-old, was sentenced to 10 months in prison Tuesday at a sheriff court in Edinburgh, Scotland. Sheriff Alison Stirling said he discounted the headline sentence of 15 months because the pilot pleaded guilty at the earliest chance he could.
The incident stems from June 16, 2023, when Russell arrived at baggage control in his captain's uniform at 9:15 a.m. for a 10:55 a.m. flight. His bag was denied by the X-ray machine due to several liquids inside, including two bottles of Jägermeister -- one of which was open and under halfway full, according to Stirling.
Officers arrived to investigate, and the Delta captain told them he had not drunk them recently but rather was drinking the night before. Just before 10 a.m., he gave a breath sample, which he failed. Shortly after, he was arrested and agreed to provide a sample of his blood.
The tests revealed the alcohol in Russell's blood was not less than 49 milligrams of alcohol in 100 milliliters of blood, which exceeded the limit of 20 milligrams. The blood alcohol limit for car drivers is 50 milligrams.
Stirling said that despite having no previous convictions in Britain, he was found to have been driving under the influence more than once while in a recovery program following his arrest. He was diagnosed with several severe alcohol use disorders but is now in remission. The sheriff said Russell completed the program successfully, saying, "I recognise from the volume of paperwork that the treatment was intense."
After serving his time, Russell may be re-employed as a pilot and may return to Delta if they decide to have him back.
"I have also read your own account of the offence and the extent of your drinking at that time," Stirling said. "The flight you were due to make to New York had to be cancelled, and you are remorseful for the inconvenience that caused to your employer and the passengers on that flight. The records also tell me a lot about your personal, educational, family and social history."
After he was arrested, Russell was placed on long-term disability leave and received half of his salary from Delta during that time.
"Once you have completed your sentence you will apply for a new Aviation Medical Certificate," Stirling told the pilot in court. "You expect that will be granted, and that if it is granted you expect to be re-instated to your former position. You have no health issues other than alcoholism."
11Alive reached out to Delta Air Lines for comment but have not yet heard back.