FL-Based JetBlue Pilot Pulled From Plane, Accused Of Being Drunk

ORLANDO, FL — A JetBlue pilot from Orlando is in hot water after authorities said he showed up to one of his scheduled flights out of New York intoxicated.

According to the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority, James Clifton, 52, was passing through security at the Buffalo Niagara International Airport on Wednesday morning when a TSA officer noticed that he may have been impaired.

NFTA airport police were then contacted and Clifton was removed from the cockpit, NFTA said.

Authorities said Clifton was given a portable breathalyzer test and his blood alcohol level registered a .17 — twice the legal limit.

Police took Clifton into custody and notified federal authorities. He was later released to JetBlue security.

He could face federal charges, authorities said.

The NFTA said the flight was headed to Fort Lauderdale.

In a statement to Patch, JetBlue said that the safety of its customers and crew members is a top priority.

"We adhere to all DOT rules and requirements concerning alcohol at all times and have a very strict zero tolerance internal alcohol policy," Derek Dombrowski, a spokesperson for the airline, said.

"We are aware of the incident that occurred in Buffalo on Wednesday and are cooperating fully with law enforcement. We are also conducting our own internal investigation. The crewmember involved has been removed from his duties," he continued.

The Federal Aviation Authority prohibits pilots from flying if their breath alcohol concentration registers 0.04 or greater on a required alcohol test. Clifton's was more than four times the allowable limit.