Removed From Cockpit Before Take-Off

Veteran Virgin Atlantic pilot Richard George Harwell is scheduled to be arraigned Monday on charges he tried to fly 383 passengerse from Dulles International Airport (VA) to London while drunk. Harwell, an American who's 14-year record with Virgin is described by the company as "spotless," is accused of being the first-ever Virgin pilot accused of trying to fly while intoxictated.

"He was suspended with immediate effect pending an internal investigation," said John Riordan, a Virgin Atlantic spokesman.

Police in Herndon (VA) say Harwell was in the cockpit of Flight 22 Friday night when TSA screeners, who say they smelled alcohol on the 53-year old pilot's breath, called for help. Officers boarded the 747-400 and took Harwell off, throwing him in the drunk tank after he was fingerprinted and photographed.

"We will be talking to him and the authorities over the coming weeks to find out what has happened," Virgin spokesman Paul Moore said.

Both the FAA and authorities in Virginia are investigating. "The two investigations are not really related, except they relate to the same incident," said FAA spokeswoman Laura Brown.

Flight 22 was delayed for 23 hours while passengers had to spend the night in a suburban Washington (DC) hotel.

Virgin CEO Steve Ridgeway apologized profusely for the incident Sunday, describing it as a "terrible weekend." Passengers, however, seemed unforgiving. They called Harwell "stupid" and, according to the British Press Association, said the airline's handling of the whole incident was  "devastatingly pathetic."

"This is the first time anyone at Virgin Atlantic has been charged with this sort of offense in the 20 years of our existence and everyone at the airline is extremely shocked by what has happened," Ridgeway said. "I was up at Heathrow myself this morning to meet the flight and apologize in person to the passengers and they were all very relieved to be home in time for Christmas."

FMI: www.virgin-atlantic.com