AMSTERDAM- A crew members of an unknown airline were stopped from flying at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS) after alcohol screening showed prohibited levels, Dutch authorities confirmed.
The cabin crew member tested above the legal alcohol limit before duty, while the pilot had consumed alcohol but remained below the threshold. Both were removed from flight operations under Dutch aviation safety rules.
Pilot, Attendant Found Drunk
The Aviation Supervision Team and the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee conducted routine alcohol checks on 212 cockpit and cabin crew members.
The cabin crew member recorded a blood alcohol level exceeding the legal limit of 0.2 percent. The Public Prosecution Service issued a fine of 1,100 euros and imposed a five-hour flight ban.
The pilot also tested positive for alcohol consumption but remained below the legal cap. Authorities issued a one-hour flight ban, and the airline removed the pilot from duty for the rest of the day. Dutch aviation law prohibits airline personnel from drinking alcohol within ten hours of a scheduled flight.
Authorities did not disclose which airline employed the affected crew members. The lack of disclosure followed standard procedure when no criminal charges beyond administrative fines are involved, AD reported.
Routine alcohol screenings are carried out across airports in the Netherlands to protect passenger safety and ensure crew compliance. These checks continue to reinforce strict operating standards within both cockpit and cabin roles.
Similar Incident
In November 2024, Delta Air Lines (DL) faced a critical safety issue when two flight attendants failed alcohol breath tests ahead of operating flight DL49 from Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS) to New York John F. Kennedy (JFK).
Dutch police conducted the screening and immediately removed and arrested the two crew members. Delta Air Lines (DL) suspended both attendants as investigations and disciplinary processes began.
Alcohol Testing Leads to Crew Removal
Dutch law enforcement carried out targeted alcohol tests at Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS) on hundreds of aviation personnel as part of a joint safety operation. Two Delta Air Lines (DL) flight attendants, one male and one female, recorded levels above the legal alcohol limit for flight crew.
The female attendant tested at 1.43 grams per liter, more than seven times the European regulatory limit of 0.2 grams per liter. She received a fine of €1,900. The male attendant measured 0.24 grams per liter, slightly above the threshold, and received a fine of €275. Both were detained and then suspended from duty by the airline.
European regulators mandate strict alcohol limits for all pilots and flight attendants. In the Netherlands, aviation personnel must not consume alcohol within 10 hours of operating a flight. The European Union also requires random alcohol screening across member states to maintain consistent operational safety standards.
Since 2021, the Safety Assessment of Foreign Aircraft program has included random alcohol checks for foreign airlines operating into Europe. This ensures oversight across international carriers and reinforces compliance.
Despite the removal of two cabin crew members shortly before departure, Delta reorganized staffing to keep the service operating. Flight DL49 departed Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS) with only a short delay of about 20 minutes and arrived at New York John F. Kennedy (JFK) ahead of schedule.
The airline confirmed both attendants remain suspended pending further internal review.
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