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Wed, Jun 08, 2005

Guilty!

Cloyd, Hughes Convicted Of Trying To Fly Drunk

Two defrocked America West pilots were convicted in Miami Federal Court Wednesday of trying to fly while still under the influence of a night-long drinking binge.

As ANN reported, Thomas Cloyd and Christopher Hughes admit they spent all night in a sports bar, drinking beer, then boarded America West Flight 556 from Miami to Phoenix with blood-alcohol levels of approximately 0.08 percent. As they were being towed from the gate, the TSA stopped the aircraft and it was boarded by Miami-Dade police officers. Cloyd and Hughes were arrested on the spot.

It took the Miami-Dade County jury of six men about six hours to render their verdict. In their decision, it was obvious the panel didn't go for the pilots' argument that they may have been legally drunk according to Florida law, but they weren't actually operating the aircraft at the time they were arrested. As the verdicts were read in open court, Cloyd and Hughes turned to the gallery and hugged their wives.

Both pilots were led from the courtroom, photographed and fingerprinted. They'll be back in Miami-Dade Circuit Court July 20th for sentencing. Both men had offered to plead guilty and serve 14 months in prison. Judge David Young earlier rejected that proposal.

Both men face up to five years in prison.

FMI: www.faa.gov, www.americawest.com

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