Manchester Airport drama as flight crew arrested for drinking following captain’s alert to police

Ryanair cabin crew members faced a shocking police greeting at Manchester Airport this past weekend after the aircraft’s captain raised formal alarms regarding their conduct. Officers met the inbound flight at Gate 49 on Saturday afternoon, May 2, following reports that two staff members were potentially unfit for their aviation duties and over the legal alcohol limit for work.

Breathalyser tests conducted at the gate came back positive

Initial breathalyser tests performed at the terminal suggested that both individuals had exceeded the strict alcohol limits required for flight personnel. Under the Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003, aviation workers in the United Kingdom are subject to much tougher restrictions than motorists. British law dictates a limit of just 9 micrograms of alcohol per 100ml of breath for aircrew, a fraction of the 35-microgram limit allowed for drivers in the UK.

Police took the pair into custody immediately after the preliminary readings provoked alarm bells. Passengers disembarking the aircraft all witnessed the embarrassing arrests as they paraded past, with several travellers expressing their surprise at the heavy police presence meeting the plane upon arrival.

Custody results lead to immediate release

Greater Manchester Police later confirmed that more rigorous testing conducted at the station told a different story. These subsequent checks revealed that both crew members were actually within the legal limit for flight duties. Consequently, authorities released both individuals without any criminal charges.

“Police attended Manchester Airport on May 2 after concerns about the fitness of two cabin crew members,” a spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police stated. “Subsequent tests in custody showed they were within the legal limit.”

Airline disciplinary procedures expected

Airlines typically maintain their own internal standards regardless of police outcomes. While the legal investigation has concluded, the carrier involved will likely handle any further internal reviews or disciplinary actions. Replacement staff were sourced to make sure no outbound flights suffered from the disruption, keeping airport operations running smoothly despite the gate-side incident. Ryanair has not made any statement action to be taken with regard to the cabin crew members, nor the pilot who raised the alarm.