Pilot so drunk he passed out in cockpit minutes before take-off jailed for eight months
Miroslav Gronych, 37, admitted being drunk in charge of a plane after he was found to be three times the alcohol limit
AN airline pilot who passed out in the cockpit after downing a bottle of vodka has been jailed for eight months.
Miroslav Gronych, 37, admitted being drunk in charge of a plane after he was found to be three times the alcohol limit.
The Slovakian fell into a stupor on a Sunwing Airlines plane in Calgary, Canada, that was due to fly to Mexico.
He had already been escorted off the plane for being clearly drunk after crew saw him struggling to hang up his coat, staggering and slurring his words.
Prosecutors said he returned to the plane - due to fly to Regina and Winnipeg before continuing to Cancun, Mexico on December 31 - and collapsed in his seat.
At a hearing in Calgary, Judge Anne Brown banned him from flying for one year after his release after noting he was being treated for alcoholism.
His co-pilot had pleaded with him to leave the plane before he fell unconscious.
When police arrived they smelled alcohol on his breath, could not stand-up and noticed his flying wings were pinned upside-down.
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He had a blood alcohol level three times the legal limit.
It also transpired a maid discovered an empty bottle of vodka in his hotel room.
Defence lawyer Susan Karpa told court Gronych couldn't sleep the night before his flight and drank a couple of shots of vodka because he felt he had a cold.
He said the pilot had planned to wake up in time to call in sick but he overslept and was awakened by a call asking him where he was.
For some unknown reason he then drank the rest of the vodka bottle and left for the flight, Ms Karpa said.
Speaking to the court, Gronych said: "I can't even describe how ashamed I am.
"My kids will be punished for my mistakes."
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