Russian Aircrew Banned from Flying after Alcohol Found in Test

KRASNODAR, March 5 (RIA Novosti) - The flight commander and navigator of an Aeroflot Tu-134, due to fly from a Black-Sea town to Moscow, were banned from flying after traces of alcohol were discovered in their systems, transport police said Monday.

A police spokesman said the commander and navigator tested positive for alcohol on the morning of March 1.

"This is inconceivable. They were barred from the Anapa-Moscow flight, which should have taken off at 9 a.m. [6 a.m. GMT]," she said, adding the flight had to be delayed five hours.

But the Aeroflot press service said alcohol was only found in the navigator's system, adding he had taken alcohol-based medication prior to the flight.

The Russian flagship carrier has launched an internal investigation.

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