A US based Delta Air Lines pilot pleaded guilty of being over the alcohol limit before he was due to fly a transatlantic flight back to the US from Scotland.
When reporting for duty for the Edinburgh to New York flight, Lawrence Russell, 63, was searched by Edinburgh Airport security officers.
They discovered two bottles of Jägermeister in his bag, including one which was half empty.
Raising suspicions he was possibly intoxicated, he was required to do a breath test which he failed.
His reading was more than twice over the legal limit.
Russel was remanded in custody at Edinburgh Sheriff Court after pleading guilty to being impaired through drink as a pilot.
In mitigation, Russel’s lawyer supplied records to the court of his treatment for alcoholism.
Russel said was ‘under no illusion’ it was a serious offence.
Sheriff Alison Stirling said a sentencing hearing will be held later this month.
