A pilot for a local budget carrier was caught earlier this month trying to board a plane under the influence of alcohol, industry sources said Thursday, the second such case since May.
The captain of Eastar Jet's flight ZE203 bound for the southern resort island of Jeju on June 10 failed a spot alcohol test before boarding at Gimpo International Airport in Seoul, according to the sources.
The pilot, whose name was withheld, registered a blood alcohol content of 0.042 percent, slightly higher than the permissible level of 0.04 percent, the sources said.
He was banned from boarding, and the flight took off 30 minutes later than planned after the airline replaced the captain.
The Ministry of Land, Transportation and Maritime Affairs suspended the pilot for one month and imposed a fine of 20 million won ($18,700) on the company.
In early May, a pilot with Asiana Airlines was caught boarding a plane under the influence of alcohol in Busan, forcing the flight to depart an hour late.
Earlier this month, the ministry unveiled a revision to the country's aviation law to tighten the drinking regulations on pilots and flight attendants. Under the revised law, the permissible blood alcohol level of pilots and flight attendants will be lowered from 0.04 percent to 0.03 percent. (Yonhap)
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