After landing at
John Wayne Airport,
Arntson was selected for random drug and alcohol
testing by Alaska Airlines. A technician for
Alaska Airlines performed two tests on Arntson
and received results that the pilot had a blood
alcohol concentration of 0.134 percent and 0.142
percent. After the technician
informed Alaska Airlines of the test results, it
removed Arntson from all safety-sensitive
duties.
According to federal law, a person operating a
“common carrier,” such as a commercial airliner,
is presumed to be under the influence of alcohol
when his or her blood alcohol content is 0.10
percent or higher. Arntson’s co-pilot
on the two flights on June 20 remembered seeing
the drug tester when the plane landed at John
Wayne Airport and recalled Arntson say “I bet
it’s for me,” according to the complaint.
Following the June 20, 2014, incident, Arntson
retired from Alaska Airlines.
“Those in command of passenger jets, or any
other form of public transportation, have an
obligation to serve the public in the safest and
most responsible way possible,” said United
States Attorney Eileen M. Decker. “We cannot and
will not tolerate those who violate the trust of
their passengers by endangering lives.”
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