Drunken airline pilot jailed for four months

A drunken airline pilot who tried to fly a packed plane to Dubai when he was seven times over the alcohol limit was sent to jail yesterday.

John Cronly-Dillon, 51, was sentenced to four months by a judge who told him he had brought an unblemished 25-year career to a stupid and ignominious end.

The Australian pilot for Emirates had been on such a bender, Isleworth crown court in London heard, that his drink level sent monitors through the ceiling, even though he claimed to have observed the ban on pilots taking alcohol within 12 hours of a flight. He was arrested after stumbling around during a routine search at Heathrow, making incoherent jokes about "not blowing up my plane" with his breath smelling strongly of drink.

Judge Usha Khan told him that his behaviour during the search had been extraordinary. While waiting for security staff he drank water and ate a whole packet of chewing gum. She said: "Your face was red, and the security guards could smell alcohol on you."

"You also stumbled as you took your shoes off for the security gate and again as you passed through the metal detector, hitting the side and activating the alarm." The behaviour belied defence claims that Cronly-Dillon did not realise the state he was in. He pleaded guilty to preparing to fly while over the alcohol limit.