Pilot Admits To Flying Boeing 747 Drunk While In Military

A pilot pleaded guilty Tuesday to drunkenly flying a jumbo jet during his time in the military. Daniel R. Criss, of Brevard County, Florida, admitted to piloting the Boeing 747 in July 2015 while being under the influence of alcohol.

Criss, 61, was working as a Defense Department contractor at the time for Kalitta Air at the time. He admitted to flying the massive aircraft from Osan Airbase in South Korea to Anchorage, Alaska Jul. 14, 2015. The plane was carrying cargo and a flight crew.

“Criss admitted that when he arrived at Osan Air Base that morning at about 10 a.m., he was already under the influence of alcohol,” the Justice Department said in a press release Tuesday. “Before take-off, Criss’ co-pilots observed that he was having difficulty writing down the air traffic control clearance.”

The co-pilots shared their concerns with Criss, according to the Justice Department. The pilot told them he had merely not gotten enough sleep. He continued piloting the Boeing 747 and was able to stay in control of the aircraft for the remainder of the flight.

“Criss admitted that as the aircraft neared Yokota air space and began its descent, he missed numerous radio calls, lost situational awareness and ran an incorrect landing checklist,” the Justice Department said. “Criss also admitted that, upon landing, he took control of the aircraft and taxied it to the runway at a higher than normal rate of speed, and, once the aircraft arrived at the ramp, he fell asleep, woke up and fell asleep again.”

Criss’ co-pilots at the time thought he was having a medical emergency and called for paramedics. When emergency workers arrived, they noticed “an odor of alcohol on his breath.” Criss blood alcohol was determined through testing to be anywhere from 0.152 percent and 0.146 percent.

Criss was charged in February and entered his plea in Orlando federal court Tuesday. The pilot pleaded guilty to one count of operating an aircraft under the influence of alcohol.