'Drunk' Flybe pilot arrested before take off

A pilot for the airline Flybe has been arrested on suspicion of being over the legal blood-alcohol limit just before he was scheduled to fly.

The 48-year-old pilot was removed from the aircraft on Wednesday morning and was breathalysed after a colleague voiced concerns over his sobriety, the BBC reports.

The flight, from Newquay Airport in Cornwall to London Gatwick, was cancelled and passengers faced delays of almost five hours.

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"We all got on the plane and then there was an announcement," one anonymous passenger told the BBC. "We were told the pilot was unwell."

A Devon and Cornwall Police spokesman said: "A 48-year-old man from Crediton, Devon, was arrested on suspicion of being over the drink-drive limit. He was taken to Newquay Police Station and remains in custody."

In a statement Flybe said: "Flybe can confirm that one of its pilots volunteered to help the police with their inquiries at Newquay Airport. Flybe is not able to comment further while the police investigation is taking place."

A Civil Aviation Authority spokesman added: "For pilots the blood/alcohol limit is 20 milligrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood".