‘Drink-fly’ pilot must stay in US

A London-based pilot who is accused of trying to fly a Jumbo jet while under the influence of alcohol has been told he cannot leave the United States until his trial in August. As reported by News From Abroad, 55-year-old Richard Harwell was arrested in December after crew smelt alcohol on his breath, shortly before he was due to fly a Virgin Atlantic Boeing 747 from Washington DC to London’s Heathrow airport. Harwell was indicted of attempting to operate an aircraft while under the influence of an intoxicating drug or alcohol last week, despite denying the charge. He reportedly surrendered his passport in December and was freed on a bail of nearly GBP14,000. Now Harwell, who is American but has been living in London for several years, faces up to five years on prison if he is convicted. Report by Tim Gillett, News From Abroad