James Clifton: JetBlue pilot accused of being drunk minutes before take-off, may face charges

The pilot was four times over the limit to fly a plane and has been relieved of his duties

UPDATED MAR 3, 2022

An Airbus A321-231 operated by JetBlue takes off. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

James Clifton, a JetBlue pilot was removed from the cockpit after taking a breathalyzer minutes before takeoff and blowing four times over the limit. Clifton, 52, of Orlando, Florida blew a 0.17 before a 6:15 am flight on Wednesday, February 2. This is four times the legal limit for a pilot and double the average limit.

Pilots and crew members are also not authorized to consume alcohol within eight hours of their shift, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. Clifton and his team were said to have spent the night drinking at a bar near the hotel where they were staying. The flight's other pilot told cops, according to the police report. Clifton missed the crew bus and had to take an Uber to the airport. He drew the attention of a police officer and a TSA official while passing through security.

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According to ABC 7, Clifton told authorities he had five or six beers the night before and hadn't had any till the morning of the flight. He then clarified, saying he had up to eight drinks. Clifton was overheard on the phone telling an officer that he drank "ten 22-ounce tallboys and left the restaurant around midnight." The exact amount of beverages taken by the pilot is unknown.

A Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority official said he was taken down from the cockpit at Buffalo Niagara International Airport before the flight to Fort Lauderdale. The pilot was supposedly visibly tipsy when going through security, forcing TSA to report the incident to airport police, resulting in a four-hour flight delay. According to Flight Aware, the flight, JetBlue 2465, which was scheduled to depart at 6:15 am, arrived in Florida at 1:10 pm.

Clifton was apprehended by federal agents, and federal authorities were informed. According to WKBW, JetBlue said the pilot has been relieved of his duties and may face charges.

According to the New York Post, the airline stated: "The safety of JetBlue’s customers and crewmembers is our first priority. We adhere to all [Department of Transportation] rules and requirements concerning alcohol at all times and have a very strict zero-tolerance internal alcohol policy.''

In addition, the airline is undertaking an internal inquiry and cooperating with local authorities. The Federal Aviation Administration has also stated that they will look into the situation, stating: "The FAA is investigating allegations that an airline pilot attempted to report for duty while under the influence of alcohol. The agency takes these matters seriously."