The 44-year-old Ramsey resident said the BAC reading was caused by the gum he was chewing
NEW YORK-- A now-former JetBlue pilot from Bergen County flew twice while he was drunk, authorities say.
Dennis Murphy, 44, of Ramsey had a blood alcohol content of .11 when he was tested following a flight from Orlando to John F. Kennedy International Airport on April 21, 2015, NYDailyNews.com reported. The plane carried 151 passengers.
A former JetBlue pilot has been charged with flying while under the influence of alcohol. Earlier in the day, Murphy and a co-pilot flew from JFK to Orlando carrying 119 passengers.
Though he blamed the gum he was chewing, the co-pilot told investigators he saw Murphy "drinking an unknown beverage from a cup before and during" the flights, the report said.
Murphy, who began flying for the airline in January 2015, quit before his scheduled disciplinary hearing in May.
The FAA prohibits pilot from flying if their BAC is .04 or greater, but they can't be criminally charged unless the reading is .10 or greater.
Murphy, who now works as a substitute teacher, was released on $50,000 bond, NYPost.com said. He faces up to 15 years in prison, according to ABCNews.com.
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