Over 100 Passengers Stranded in Germany Because of Drunk Co-Pilot

Rabat- The co-pilot of the Portuguese airline, TAP Air Portugal, was arrested Friday night at Stuttgart airport after he showed-up drunk shortly before the takeoff to Lisbon, keeping more than 100 passengers stranded at Stuttgart airport in southwestern Germany, German police and prosecutors said.

Shortly before the takeoff, an airport worker discovered that “the co-pilot seemed unsteady on his feet and reeked of alcohol.” After warning the airport authorities, German police entered the cockpit and found the 40-year-old in a “highly intoxicated condition” yesterday evening, according to statement.

The Stuttgart public prosecutor’s office immediately suspended the Portuguese pilot’s flight license and set a EUR 10,000 bail for his release.

Following the incident, the flight was canceled and all the 106 passengers on board were taken to a hotel, the German news agency DPA reported.

TAP tweeted Saturday that the passengers would only be able to fly to Lisbon on Monday, “which is, at the moment, the first day with seats available.