198 PASSENGERS LEFT STRANDED AFTER DRUNK DELTA PILOT ARRESTED IN SWEDEN

 A Delta Air Lines pilot was pulled from the cockpit in Stockholm just before departure after allegedly failing a breathalyzer test. The arrest forced the cancellation of Flight 205 to New York JFK, leaving 198 passengers grounded and entitled to €600 each under EU law.

Swedish police boarded the Boeing 767 around 9:15 a.m. local time on July 22, moments before takeoff from Arlanda Airport. The pilot, an American woman according to reports, was detained during a routine check.

The flight was scrapped, and Delta now faces more than $139,000 in compensation payouts, not including hotel, meal, and rebooking costs. The airline confirmed the pilot’s immediate removal and reaffirmed its zero-tolerance alcohol policy.

This isn’t the first time Delta has faced such headlines. Just last year, a Delta captain was arrested in Edinburgh with open bottles of Jägermeister in his luggage. His blood alcohol level tested more than twice the legal limit for flight crew. He pleaded guilty in court.

Other incidents include arrests in Amsterdam, Minneapolis, and even among Southwest and United pilots in recent years.

While strict testing protocols are in place, the industry continues to wrestle with how to balance safety with mental health support for crew members.