Drunk? Co-pilot is jailed in Salt Lake City

A Southwest Airlines flight with 123 passengers on board was delayed at Salt Lake International Airport Sunday morning after the FBI arrested the co-pilot for investigation of being intoxicated.

Southwest Flight 136 from Salt Lake City to Phoenix was delayed 15 minutes until a replacement pilot was brought in, Southwest spokeswoman Paula Berg said. The flight was scheduled to leave Salt Lake City at 8 a.m. MDT. It arrived in Phoenix at 8:42 a.m. MST, 12 minutes late.

FBI officers performed a breathalyzer test on the co-pilot after a security screener smelled alcohol on his breath. The FBI did not release the test's results Sunday. The legal blood-alcohol level for flying a plane is 0.04 percent, compared with 0.08 for driving a car.

Carl Fulton, 41, Fort Worth, Texas, was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail Sunday on suspicion of operating a common carrier while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, a federal offense.

The pilot, who is based in Dallas, has been employed with the airline for two years. This is the first time he has gotten into any trouble, Berg said.

"He hadn't operated an aircraft that day, and he has no other offenses on his record," Berg said.

She said no other passengers or flights were affected.

Berg said the pilot has been placed on leave and won't be allowed to fly until after an internal investigation.

She also said the airline is cooperating with law enforcement officials. The Federal Aviation Administration will investigate.

FBI spokesman Patrick Kiernan said he expects the U.S. Attorney's Office to file charges today. Operating a common carrier while under the influence of drugs is punishable by up to 15 years in federal prison.

Last year, an America West pilot and his co-pilot who got behind the controls of a Phoenix-bound jetliner while drunk were sentenced to 2 1/2 years and five years in prison, respectively.

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Contributing: Jennifer Dobner of Associated Press

E-mail: dsmeath@desnews.com