A Scandinavian Airlines captain tested positive for cocaine at Nice Côte d'Azur Airport after the arrival of his Airbus A320. The test was carried out by the air transport police as part of a routine screening of the crew.
The pilot was immediately removed from service
The man, approximately 45 years old and described as an experienced pilot, was declared unfit to fly after testing positive. Further tests confirmed the presence of cocaine. The subsequent flight, scheduled between Nice and Stockholm-Arlanda, was canceled due to the inability to maintain a crew that met regulatory requirements.
The captain was taken into custody and brought before a judge the following day. He was sentenced to 10 months' imprisonment, suspended, and banned from flying over French territory for one year. This ban prevents him from piloting aircraft over France for the entire duration of the ban.
Passengers rerouted after the cancellation
Passengers on the cancelled flight to Stockholm were taken care of by the airline. Some were rebooked, while others received accommodation and a new flight the following day. SAS mentioned a crew member "unfit for flight" and indicated that the matter was now under the jurisdiction of the authorities.
A case treated as a serious offense
In commercial aviation, the use of narcotics while on duty is incompatible with the safety regulations applicable to flight crews. In this case, no flight incident or emergency landing was reported, but the positive test resulted in the pilot's arrest, the cancellation of the next flight, and an immediate criminal conviction.
