Swiss Airline Pilots Removed from Duty After Attempting to Fly Intoxicated
Two pilots of Swiss, a Lufthansa subsidiary, were removed from service after attempting to report for duty while still intoxicated from heavy drinking the previous evening. The incident occurred in May 2026 at a hotel in Geneva, where the pilots were observed to be 'clearly intoxicated' by unnamed witnesses. The next morning, crew members noticed their condition and reported them before they could board an Airbus A220 flight. Swiss confirmed the pilots were replaced at the crew hotel and never entered the cockpit. Both pilots have been provisionally suspended and face disciplinary action, including possible dismissal. The airline emphasized that its safety protocols worked effectively, as employees took responsibility and reported their observations. European regulations set a 0.2 per mille blood alcohol limit for cockpit crews, but Swiss enforces a stricter 0.0 per mille policy.
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