Ex-Alaska Pilot David Hans Arntson Pleads Guilty to Drunk Flying

David Hans Arntson, 62, of Newport Beach, has agreed to plead guilty to operating a common carrier while under the influence of alcohol, admitting he flew two Alaska Airlines passenger flights in June 2014 with a blood alcohol concentration more than three times the federal limit.

Court documents reveal Arntson piloted a flight from San Diego International Airport to Portland, Oregon, on June 20, 2014, then flew a second plane from Portland back to John Wayne Airport in Orange County — all while intoxicated. After landing, he was flagged for a routine random drug and alcohol test administered by Alaska Airlines personnel.

Two breathalyzer tests clocked Arntson’s blood alcohol at 0.134 percent and 0.142 percent — far above the federal 0.04 percent cap for commercial pilots. The results were immediately reported to airline officials, who yanked him from all safety-sensitive duties on the spot.

Arntson, who had flown for Alaska Airlines for over two decades, retired shortly after the incident. The Federal Aviation Administration swiftly revoked his pilot credentials, ending his career in the cockpit. No accidents occurred during the flights, but prosecutors stress the potential for catastrophe.

“This pilot worked for the airline for more than 20 years, and we now know that he was an alcoholic who flew commercial flights while under the influence of alcohol,” said United States Attorney Nicola T. Hanna. “When he was finally caught, the evidence indicates that he had flown with an alcohol level more than three times the legal limit. Thankfully, Mr. Arntson was never involved in an accident, but his conduct could have resulted in tragic consequences.”

Under the terms of his plea agreement, Arntson faces one year and a day in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. The case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Transportation, Office of Inspector General, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Dennis Mitchell and Mark A. Williams. A hearing before United States District Judge Cormac J. Carney will be scheduled for Arntson to formally enter his guilty plea.