Drunk American pilot, 63, who was caught with bottles of Jägermeister in his bag before he was due to fly a passenger plane from Edinburgh to New York while more than twice the alcohol limit is jailed for 10 months

A drunken US pilot who was caught with bottles of Jägermeister in his bag before flying a jetliner from Edinburgh to New York despite being jailed at more than twice the alcohol limit.

Captain Lawrence Russell, 63, was arrested at Edinburgh Airport wearing his pilot’s uniform after an X-ray machine rejected his hand luggage as he boarded the plane to New York on June 16.

Prosecutors said the former Delta Airlines pilot endangered “hundreds of lives” and showed a “reckless disregard” for safety after admitting to being accused of showing up for work in as a pilot while under the influence of alcohol.

Russell, from Georgia in the US, was due to fly a Boeing 767 to JFK Airport – but was found to have a blood alcohol level two and a half times the alcohol limit after a breathalyzer test at 9:30 a.m.

An open bottle of Jagermeister was spotted in his hand luggage, along with another half full, sparking concerns.

Prosecutor Matthew Millar told the court the pilot was due to operate a Boeing 767 on a New York flight when his luggage was inspected (stock image)

Russell admitted to being the owner and a blood sample was taken which showed it contained approximately 49 milligrams of alcohol in 100 milliliters of blood.

He pleaded guilty at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on March 6 to reporting for work as a pilot while impaired by alcohol, contrary to the legal limit of 20 milligrams of alcohol in 100 milliliters of blood.

Russell was sentenced to 10 months in prison at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Tuesday.

Lynne Barrie, Procurator Fiscal for Lothian and Borders, said: “Lawrence Russell’s conduct would have put many lives at risk; the consequences could have been catastrophic.

“He showed complete disregard for the safety of his passengers and crew. The pilot of a commercial airliner holds the lives of hundreds of people in his hands. He would have put them all in danger.

“This conviction should send the message that crimes of this nature will be dealt with vigorously.”

Prosecutor Matthew Millar previously told the court that airport security staff “noticed that Mr Russell was wearing a pilot’s uniform, a lanyard around his neck and a Delta Airline crew pass”.

The pilot, from Georgia in the United States, was “identified as the owner of the bag” and during a search of the luggage, the Jägermeister bottles were found.

The court previously heard that one of the bottles of alcohol found in the bag had been opened and was “half full”, as Mr Millar said: “Given that Mr Russell was wearing a pilot’s uniform, the police were contacted.

Russell was arrested at Edinburgh Airport (pictured) after his luggage was selected for a security inspection at around 8am on June 16, the court previously heard.

“Mr Russell identified himself to officers and stated that he was the captain of the aircraft.”

The pilot provided police with a breath sample around 9:30 a.m. He was then arrested and taken to Livingston police station where he provided a blood sample. The court heard the alcohol level in the airline pilot’s blood sample was “not less than 49 mg of alcohol per 100 ml of blood”.

The fiscal depute previously told the court that when Russell Jr was cautioned and charged he told officers: “I’m terrified.”

Barrister Pamela Rogers, defending, provided the court with a medical report into the treatment Russell Jr received for his alcoholism and said he had “no illusions” about the seriousness of the offending.

Following the pilot’s arrest, the flight from Edinburgh to New York was canceled.