U.S. Airways Cited For Allegedly Serving Drunk Passenger

On Tuesday, the state cited U.S. Airways for allegedly selling alcohol to an already drunk passenger. According to police, Ernest Wright got off the plane, got in his car and drove drunk, Action 7 News reported.

He was arrested after driving while intoxicated at a checkpoint in Bernalillo County Saturday, police said.

He was arrested after driving while intoxicated at a checkpoint in Bernalillo County Saturday, police said.

Bernalillo County Sheriff Darren White was at the checkpoint and probed Wright for more information.

White said he discovered receipts showing that the suspect had been on a U.S. Airways flight from Phoenix and that he'd left the Sunport parking garage 25 minutes before being arrested.

White said that reminded him of Dana Papst.

Papst is the man investigators said U.S. Airways over-served on a flight last November, before he got in into his car drunk and drove the wrong way on Interstate 25 near Santa Fe.

Papst crashed into a van, killing five members of the same Las Vegas family.

U.S. Airways has a temporary liquor license in New Mexico. According to the state, the airline has an application on file for a permanent license.

If state officials find the airline did serve another visibly intoxicated passenger, their pending application could be rejected, officials said Tuesday.

Until a decision is made, the airline will be able to legally sell alcohol to passengers in and out of the Albuquerque Sunport.

A spokesperson for U.S. Airways told Action 7 News that the airline launched an internal investigation and that it is a coincidence that there would be two issues like this in one state within six months.

Source: Yahoo! News