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SkyWest Airlines flight delayed in SLC after passenger claims pilot was intoxicated

Posted at 4:28 PM, Dec 03, 2016
and last updated 2016-12-03 19:17:15-05

SALT LAKE CITY — A SkyWest Airlines flight was delayed in Salt Lake City Saturday after a passenger thought the pilot was intoxicated, and, while the aircraft returned to the gate, the fears of impairment proved unfounded.

Marissa Snow, SkyWest Airlines, said a passenger had a concern about the pilot possibly being impaired, which she said is something they take very seriously. Flight #4620 returned to the gate, where it was determined the pilot was not intoxicated.

The delay caused the flight crew to become “timed out”, Snow said, so another flight crew was being brought in to replace them. Airlines have regulations in place restricting the amount of consecutive hours crews can fly. As of 5 p.m., the aircraft had still not departed.

Snow said it is not clear what led the passenger to believe the pilot may have been intoxicated.

Flight #4620 was on its way to Burbank when the incident occurred.