Pilot arrested after breath test

The pilot was arrested as the plane prepared to leave Manchester

A pilot was arrested at Manchester Airport after he failed a breath test as he prepared for a long-haul flight.

The 51-year-old pilot from Pakistan was arrested on Saturday on suspicion of being over the legal limit to fly.

The man was due to fly 350 passengers on Pakistan International Airlines Boeing 747 from Manchester to Lahore.

A spokeswoman for Greater Manchester Police said on Monday that the pilot was bailed "pending further tests" until 24 March.

The flight was delayed for 90 minutes while a replacement pilot was found.

No-one from Pakistan International Airlines was available for comment.

The legal limit for flying a plane is 20 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood - one quarter the legal limit for driving a car at 80mg.

The Civil Aviation Authority, which regulates British airlines, recommends flight crew do not drink at least eight hours before reporting for duty.