Amsterdam Delta Air Lines Crew Members Fined After Breathalyzers Reveal High Alcohol Levels

Two Delta Air Lines flight attendants allegedly failed breathalyzer tests just minutes before their scheduled flight from Amsterdam Schiphol Airportto New York JFK Airport. The two crew members, a male and a female, had been enjoying a Thanksgiving layover in Amsterdam but were found to be over the legal alcohol limit for aviation personnel.

Flight attendant found seven times over legal alcohol limit

The routine alcohol inspection was conducted by the Dutch Team for Aviation Supervision and the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee on November 29, according to NL Times, an online news agency in the Netherlands. The report revealed that the female flight attendant had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 1.43 promille—more than seven times the allowable limit of 0.2 promille for aircrew. As a result, she was fined €1,900 (approximately US $2,000), the highest penalty issued during the operation.

Another male flight attendant, also believed to be employed by Delta, tested at 0.24 promille, just above the legal limit. He was fined €275 for the infraction. Both attendants have been suspended from their duties on flight DL49 back to New York.

Schiphol Airport alcohol test leads to suspensions

The incident took place as part of a broader alcohol testing operation at Schiphol Airport, which saw 445 breathalyzer tests conducted on aviation personnel between 7:00 and 10:00 local time on Friday morning. Dutch police confirmed that no Dutch airline employees were among those who exceeded the alcohol limit, and the names of the airlines involved were not disclosed. However, aviation insider JonNYC on social media “X” identified the Delta employees involved in the incident, and the plane took off with reduced crew.

Simple Flying has reached out to Delta to confirm the incident.

Despite the last-minute personnel change, the flight DL49 arrived in New York ahead of schedule, according to FlightAware.

Dutch authorities conduct routine alcohol testing

Under Dutch aviation regulations, crew members are prohibited from consuming alcohol within 10 hours of a flight, and during active duty, their BAC must not exceed 0.2 promille—the equivalent of consuming less than one standard drink for most adults. These measures are in place to ensure that flight attendants and pilots remain fully alert and capable of handling emergency situations, ensuring the safety of passengers and crew alike.

In addition to the Delta attendants, another flight crew member from a different foreign airline was found with a BAC of 1.30 promille, resulting in a €1,800 fine. The inspection, which is part of ongoing efforts to maintain strict safety standards for aviation personnel, revealed that none of the individuals fined were employed by Dutch airlines.

The Dutch police spokesperson emphasized that the alcohol checks are vital to ensuring the safety of all airline operations: “These controls are critical for ensuring the safety of all passengers and crew.” The fines were settled on-site, and while no arrests were made, the incident underscores the importance of alcohol testing for aviation personnel.

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An average adult’s blood alcohol level is usually 0.5 promille after consuming one to two glasses of alcohol.