US Airways Cleared In Drunk Passenger Death

By Editor

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has cleared US Airways of wrongdoing in its DUI investigation into whether the airline served an already-intoxicated passenger. Dana Papst died while driving home from the Albuquerque, New Mexico airport.

The Aero-News Network reports that after Papst was served alcohol on a flight to Albuquerque, he turned the wrong way in I-25 near Santa Fe and struck a vehicle, killing himself and five others in a head-on collision. His blood alcohol level was four times the legal limit for DUI in New Mexico.

The FAA determined Papst had stopped in Bernadillo, New Mexico and bought beer at a convenience store. The accident occurred three hours after the flight had landed.

US Airways was banned from serving alcohol on flights going to New Mexico until the airline received a state liquor license.  Obtaining a liquor license in New Mexico includes training servers to identify alcohol impaired or intoxicated passengers.