Pilot Found Drunk In Cockpit Just Five Minutes Before Turkish Airlines Flight Takes Off From Australia

A Turkish Airlines captain has been found to have 0.67 promille of alcohol in his system shortly before the doors were due to close on a packed flight preparing to take off from Melbourne Airport.

The incident happened at Melbourne Airport in Australia on 7th August, shortly before Turkish Airlines flight TK169 was due to fly to Singapore before continuing to Istanbul.

All passengers had already boarded when captain T.T. entered the cockpit and began preparing for the Melbourne-Singapore-Istanbul flight.

But cabin crew became suspicious that T.T. had been drinking and immediately alerted Turkish Airlines' Operations Control Centre in Istanbul.

Following the report, authorised officials at Melbourne Airport went to the aircraft and entered the cockpit about five minutes before the doors were due to close.

T.T. was subjected to an alcohol test, which recorded 0.67 promille.

Turkish Airlines operates a zero-tolerance policy on alcohol for pilots on duty, meaning the captain should have had a 0.00% blood alcohol level when he reported for the flight.

The captain was not allowed to fly and the flight was cancelled, with passengers removed from the aircraft and taken to hotels for accommodation.

According to reports, the cabin crew's intervention prevented T.T. from operating the flight after the alcohol test was carried out so close to departure.

The incident came shortly after another Turkish Airlines pilot, identified as F.O., reportedly tested positive for alcohol before a Brussels-to-Istanbul flight, resulting in that service also being cancelled.

But the Melbourne case did not end with the cancellation of the flight.

According to information reported by local media, T.T. was sent from Melbourne to Singapore the following day as a non-operating passenger on another flight.

It was alleged that he bought whisky from a duty-free shop at Melbourne Airport and then drank it during the Melbourne-Singapore flight.

The cabin crew reportedly noticed the alleged drinking and filed a second report about T.T.

The reports have raised questions about how T.T. was able to reach the cockpit and begin preparing for departure before his condition was detected.

Local media also questioned whether the flight would have taken off had the cabin crew not alerted the Operations Control Centre after becoming suspicious of the captain.

The report further questioned why T.T. was subsequently allowed to travel as a non-operating passenger and what measures were taken after the first incident.

According to information cited by local media, T.T.'s employment contract had still not been terminated despite the incident.

The disciplinary action taken against him was not disclosed, while the details of the internal investigation remained unknown.

(Marija Stojkoska/Newsflash)