United pilot refuses to fly after passenger smokes pot on plane: ‘Not willing to risk it'

New York Post

7 days ago

He didn't want to be flying high.
A United Airlines pilot refused to fly from San Francisco to Cancun, Mexico on Tuesday after a passenger smoked pot on the plane, resulting in a nearly four-hour delay.
In a viral Reddit post, a passenger who was aboard flight UA1679 recalled how the ill-fated trip was initially 'delayed due to technical issues' then again after 'someone smoked weed in the front bathrooms.'
'They got removed from the flight then sat on the plane for 40ish minutes waiting for crew to figure out what to do,' they explained. 'Crew was concerned they got exposed, so we deplaned and are awaiting new crew.'
'The likelihood of testing positive from secondhand marijuana smoke in a well-ventilated aircraft is laughably low,' wrote A View From The Wing contributor Gary Leff. 'Yet I still understand the irrational fear given FAA drug testing regulations and zero-tolerance airline policies that punish even inadvertent exposure if a positive test occurs.'
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The flyboy was reportedly afraid that getting exposed to secondhand weed smoke could cause them to fail a random drug test. According to the post, the captain had announced, 'I have 30 years left of my career at United, I'm not willing to risk getting drug tested when I get to Houston.'
The passengers' dreams of a smooth travel experience went up in weed smoke.
'Currently sitting in the terminal at SFO, no sign of a new crew yet,' the Redditor wrote. 'Original departure 8:50 am, current estimated departure 12:30 pm. Given a $15 meal voucher and they have rolled out a snack cart at the gate.'
The Post reached out to United for comment.
The flight was reportedly delayed for nearly four hours due to the incident.
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Flight experts deemed the precaution a tad overzealous but totally understandable.
'The likelihood of testing positive from secondhand marijuana smoke in a well-ventilated aircraft is laughably low,' wrote A View From The Wing contributor Gary Leff. 'Yet I still understand the irrational fear given FAA drug testing regulations and zero-tolerance airline policies that punish even inadvertent exposure if a positive test occurs.'
He added, 'Virtually any detectable level of marijuana metabolite in urine is considered a failed test, regardless of reason.'
Leff warned that a positive test could end a pilot's career after a 'lengthy investigation and loss of certification' and that said flyboy couldn't expect union protection sans evidence of 'passive exposure.'
'The pilot also has a duty to report any impairment concerns – if they even believe they might have some risk of impairment they are required to self-report it,' he explained.
Redditors were quick to pile on the puff puff pass-enger with one labelling the high-flyer a 'f–king idiot.'
'I feel if that happens that person needs to be fined for every single passenger's ticket,' said another.
'Should be an automatic lifetime ban across all airlines,' declared a third. 'Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.'
Many empathized with the pilot's decision not to risk joining the mile high club.
'As the captain should have!!' one declared. 'I'm not losing my job over y'all stupidity!! So yes your flight will be delayed. Due to your fellow passengers.'