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John Daley Reporting A Southwest Airlines pilot is out of jail after making an initial court appearance on federal charges for flying under the influence. Carl Fulton, 41, was arrested yesterday, just minutes before takeoff of a flight with 123 people on board headed to Phoenix.
A federal judge released Fort Worth based Southwest pilot Carl Fulton today. Documents filed in court indicate his blood alcohol level was almost, but not quite, at the limit spelled out in Utah law.
Southwest pilot Carl Fulton didn't count on a trip to federal court in Salt Lake City, but that's what he got after being arrested for flying while under the influence.
According to court documents, Fulton was scheduled to be co-pilot on a flight from Salt Lake International to Phoenix yesterday morning when a federal screener smelled alcohol on his breath. The FBI and airport police later confronted Fulton as he was in the cockpit preparing to fly, saying a screener had smelled alcohol.
According to papers filed in court, Fulton said he understood the accusation, saying, "Do what you have to do." He was given two blood alcohol tests. One registered .039, the other slightly lower. Both were just below the limit for flying set by state law.
Court documents indicate Fulton told investigators he had two "large beers" at Brewviews Saturday night, where he watched "Mission Impossible III". And that he later said he also had another beer and what he called a "grenade of vodka."
A Southwest spokesman says the airline is conducting an internal investigation. Fulton is grounded and on administrative leave while the court case and the internal review proceed.
Ed Stewart, Spokesman, Southwest Airlines: "If there's a problem, we want to know about it because we take the safety of our employees, our customers and our aircraft very seriously."
Fulton made no plea today and the judge set another court date for later this month. Prosecutors asked Judge Paul Warner to forbid Fulton from operating an aircraft as this case proceeds and to surrender his passport. The judge said no, instead allowing him to fly if the airline allows, but that he must not use drugs or alcohol and submit to random drug and alcohol testing.
