Crackhead pilot?! Say it ain't so, Joe!

[Doug Taylor]

A link to another article.
Customs Agents Arrest Dearborn Pilot
Tue Oct 28, 3:22 PM ET

A commercial passenger pilot from Dearborn was arrested by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Monday for possessing crack cocaine.
Charges against Gary Taha were filed with the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan, according to ICE officials.
Taha reportedly consented for ICE agents to search his Dearborn hotel room. Agents discovered he had removed his luggage bag tags and taped them around the smoke detector in the room, which would disable the detector when using crack cocaine, according to ICE officials.
Taha has admitted to using cocaine and marijuana in the recent past, ICE officials reported.
"This is more about the principle than an individual who was caught with crack cocaine," Michael Hodzen, interim special agent in charge, Detroit, said. "ICE is committed to keeping the public safe."
Taha has reportedly transported passengers domestically and abroad, including the transport of U.S. military to the Persian Gulf. He has been a commercial passenger pilot for about 20 years and was employed with American Trans Air for the past 14 years, according to ICE officials. Taha said he had recently been released from employment with ATA.
The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Dearborn Police Department reportedly assisted in Taha's arrest.

[UAL747400]

Geeeeeeeze.

You spend all this money and sacrifice so much to get where you are and then you throw it all away with frigin drugs.

All I can say, DUMBA$$$$.

Regards

Tom

[pilot602]

Well when you make $350,000 a year sooner or later you run out of things (i.e. cars, houses, etc.) to buy so you look for something else to buy. Gotta use that phat salary for something!


(THAT WAS SARCASM!!!!!!!!)

[Doug Taylor]

Yet another reason why having a drug offense is the kiss of death for an airline career. I'm sure that's publicity that ATA could have dont without.

[pilot602]

Agree ... the press is goning to land on this like an elephant off a high dive. AmWest still has folks cracking jokes about the drunk pilots - a crackhead is orders of magitudes worse.

[tonyw]

[ QUOTE ]
Agree ... the press is goning to land on this like an elephant off a high dive. AmWest still has folks cracking jokes about the drunk pilots - a crackhead is orders of magitudes worse.

[/ QUOTE ]

Not sure they're going to have as much fun with this one, since he didn't do it on his way to a flight like the guys at America West did.

It's just an idiot throwing his career away -- but fortunately, this time, he didn't jeopardize anyone else's life since he was smoking rock in his room instead of on his way to the cockpit.

[Doug Taylor]

Actually it was a story from last tuesday so it's largely stayed under the radar scope.

[FlyChicaga]

I saw the article posted in our crew lounge, but that was all I heard of it. Surprisingly little coverage on the local news here in Chicago, ATA's main hub.

[JDMcFly]

Let's hope it stays that way..

I remember about a month ago, I forgot to post it here though. I was listening to the news on FoxNews, and a commercial for Dayside with linda vester was on about an hour before the actual show. (Male speaker):

Afraid to fly? You should be! Pilots are getting drunk and in the cockput and yadda de da da..

I heard it and it actually offended me, and the TV never offends me!

[Joe]

[ QUOTE ]
I was listening to the news on FoxNews

[/ QUOTE ]
See, there's your problem right there...

[ QUOTE ]
Say it ain't so, Joe!

[/ QUOTE ]
It ain't so.