Schiphol Alcohol Tests Ground Pilot and Flight Attendant, Dutch Authorities Confirm.

December 29, 2025 at 12:00 AM•2 min read

Dutch authorities at Schiphol grounded a pilot and flight attendant after routine alcohol tests showed elevated blood levels, resulting in fines and flight bans.

Key Points

1The legal blood alcohol limit for flight crew in the Netherlands is a strict 0.2 promille (0.2‰).
2The flight attendant was fined 1,100 euros and received a five-hour flight ban for exceeding the limit.
3Dutch regulations prohibit crew members from consuming alcohol within 10 hours of a flight duty period.
4A total of 212 cockpit and cabin personnel were tested during the routine Schiphol airport alcohol test operation.

A pilot and a flight attendant were stopped from flying Saturday morning. This occurred after alcohol tests at Schiphol Airport showed elevated blood levels. Dutch authorities reported the incident. The checks were part of routine screenings. These are conducted by the Aviation Supervision Team and the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee (RNLM).

Regulatory Action and Fines

The flight attendant exceeded the legal blood alcohol limit. The limit for crew member flight ban is 0.2 percent blood alcohol (0.2‰). This is a strict standard for Dutch aviation safety regulations. The Public Prosecution Service (OM) issued a fine of 1,100 euros. The crew member also received a five-hour flight ban.

The pilot had also consumed alcohol. However, the pilot remained below the official legal limit. The OM still issued a one-hour flight ban. Furthermore, the employing airline prohibited the pilot from flying for the rest of the day. Authorities did not disclose the airlines employing the two crew members.

Strict Aviation Safety Standards

Commercial aviation maintains a zero-tolerance approach to impairment. Regulations prohibit aircraft personnel from consuming alcohol within ten hours of a flight. This is the Dutch 'bottle to throttle' rule. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) recommends a limit of 0.2 per thousand. This is significantly lower than most countries' limits for driving. The strict blood alcohol limit aviation standard is critical for crew fitness for duty.

These safety checks are performed regularly. The Aviation Supervision Team and RNLM conducted 212 tests on cockpit and cabin personnel. This ensures compliance with the strict standards. Such controls protect the safety of all passengers and crew. They are carried out at airports across the Netherlands. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) stresses the importance of global compliance. These checks reinforce the industry's commitment to safety. They ensure all personnel meet the highest operational standards. This is vital for all commercial aviation news.