Turkish Airlines Captain Became Suspicious of the First Officer’s Behavior: First Officer Tested Positive for Alcohol, #TK1938 Flight Cancelled
According to an exclusive report by Belgian newspaper Gazet van Antwerpen (GVA), Turkish Airlines flight #TK1938 from Brussels to Istanbul was cancelled after the operating First Officer (FO) tested positive in a pre-flight alcohol screening.
According to the information we obtained, before the flight, the Captain became suspicious of the First Officer’s behavior and requested that an alcohol test be carried out. Belgian police at Brussels Airport subsequently administered the test, which revealed that the First Officer’s blood alcohol level was above the legal limit.
The flight, scheduled to be operated by TC-LTN, an Airbus A321neo, was cancelled after the First Officer was prohibited from operating the flight due to the positive test result. Turkish Airlines then cancelled TK1938 and arranged alternative flights for affected passengers.
Following the incident, the Belgian Civil Aviation Authority and the Halle-Vilvoorde Public Prosecutor’s Office were notified. The prosecutor imposed a 12-hour flying ban on the First Officer, while an official report was filed and a formal investigation was launched.
In addition, the pilot was fined €1,200.
According to GVA, the investigation will continue under the supervision of the public prosecutor. The First Officer could face criminal proceedings, and the incident may also have consequences for the pilot’s aviation license.
A similar incident occurred in 2023, when a Delta Air Lines captain in the United States was found to be under the influence of alcohol before a flight and was sentenced to 10 months in prison.
