US pilot arrested for carrying taser

A Newark-bound transatlantic flight from Scotland was canceled at the weekend after airport security discovered a taser in the pilot’s bag.

The pilot was scheduled to fly the United Airlines plane from Edinburgh Airport.

The 56 year-old pilot was arrested and charged with a firearms offense.

Non-police issued tasers are illegal in the UK

The US national is due in court today.

The airline said the pilot was ‘removed from service’ leading to the last minute cancelation of the flight.

“We are fully cooperating with local authorities,” the airline said.

The US ‘Federal Flight Deck Officer’ program allows certain qualified pilots to carry firearms in the cockpit to defend against hijacking attempts.

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