American Air Pilot Charged With Drinking Before Flight

An American Airlines pilot has been charged with drinking before a weekend flight out of Detroit Metro Airport, prosecutors said.

John Maguire, 50, was in the cockpit for the Philadelphia-bound flight on Saturday morning when he was detained, Maria Miller, assistant prosecuting attorney of Wayne County, Michigan, said.

Maguire, from Pennsylvania, has not been arraigned, Miller said. He was released the day of his arrest.

Police at the airport twice had Maguire use a breathalyser, and each time his readings exceeded the legal limit, airport spokesman Michael Conway said.

The Federal Aviation Administration prohibits pilots from flying with blood alcohol content higher than .04. The FAA said in a statement that it was investigating the incident.

American Airlines spokeswoman Laura Nedbal said on Saturday that Maguire's flight was cancelled and passengers were put on other flights.