Two Swiss pilots attempted to fly an airliner despite being drunk. Fortunately, some colleagues, having discovered their intent, communicated their plans to top management and so they were replaced. The episode dates back to May 2026, but only recently emerged thanks to a preview from the specialist site AeroTelegraph.
What happened
The two pilots were staying in a hotel in Geneva, Switzerland. According to what has been reconstructed, the evening before take-off they had indulged in a few too many drinks. The following morning, however, they were still high on alcohol and therefore unfit to fly an Airbus A220 which can carry up to 160 passengers. Nonetheless, the two still intended to board the aircraft headed to a European destination.
But some colleagues, also staying in the same hotel, noticed the behavior of the two and therefore alerted the management of the Swiss airline. Swiss itself confirmed this to the news agency Keystone-Ats that they had received the report and decided to remove the two “tipsy” pilots from duty while they were still in the hotel. Both were replaced with other staff before the transfer to the airport. Airlines require you to abstain from consuming alcoholic beverages at least 12 hours before take-off: a time horizon that in this case would not have been respected.
The Swiss carrier did not specify the nationality of the two nor to which destination the flight departing from Geneva was headed. The pilots were suspended from service and at the moment it does not appear that they have returned to flying.