Pilot charged with drinking before takeoff

LONDON, Nov. 10 (UPI) -- A United Airlines pilot has been accused of drunkenness in the cockpit of a plane that was about to take off from London's Heathrow Airport, the airline said.

Erwin Washington, 51, of Lakewood, Colo., has been charged with performing an aviation function while exceeding the "proscribed alcohol limit," British police said.

Washington was scheduled to pilot a flight to Chicago with 124 passengers and 11 crew members on board. The Monday flight was "imminent" when he was arrested, an airport spokesman said.

"Safety is our highest priority and the pilot has been removed from service while we are cooperating with authorities and conducting a full investigation," the spokesman said.

The flight was canceled and passengers were put on other flights, the BBC said.

Washington was released on bail and is scheduled to appear in a London court Nov. 20, the BBC reported Tuesday.