LONDON, England (CNN) -- Police arrested an American Airlines pilot who failed a breathalyzer test at London's Heathrow Airport on Wednesday, the airline and police said Thursday.
The pilot was due to fly a London-to-Chicago route leaving Heathrow at 10:15 a.m. He was replaced and the flight departed at 11:30 a.m., the airline said.
It declined to name the pilot.
London's Metropolitan Police said he was a 57-year-old man who was arrested 20 minutes before the plane was due to take off.
Arrests of drunk pilots are "quite infrequent," said a police spokesman who declined to be named, in line with police policy. "They are not everyday occurrences."
The police declined to say how far over the limit he was.
He was released on bail to face a possible court appearance in July.
The pilot was due to fly a London-to-Chicago route leaving Heathrow at 10:15 a.m. He was replaced and the flight departed at 11:30 a.m., the airline said.
It declined to name the pilot.
London's Metropolitan Police said he was a 57-year-old man who was arrested 20 minutes before the plane was due to take off.
Arrests of drunk pilots are "quite infrequent," said a police spokesman who declined to be named, in line with police policy. "They are not everyday occurrences."
The police declined to say how far over the limit he was.
He was released on bail to face a possible court appearance in July.