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Two men convicted of drunken piloting

The two former America West pilots are now being held without bail while they await sentencing.

MIAMI - Two former America West pilots were convicted Wednesday of operating an aircraft while drunk in the cockpit after an all-night drinking binge.

Pilot Thomas Cloyd, 47, and co-pilot Christopher Hughes, 44, bowed their heads when the verdict was read after a two-week trial and about six hours of jury deliberation.

Circuit Judge David Young ordered that both men be held without bail and set sentencing for July 20. They could be sentenced to as little as probation or as much as five years in prison.

The pilots, who were fingerprinted and handcuffed in the courtroom before being taken to jail, refused to comment. Each hugged weeping loved ones before being led away by bailiffs.

"All I can say is that we are very disappointed," said James Rubin, Hughes' attorney. He declined to comment on a possible appeal.

Prosecutors said the jury apparently was not swayed by defense contentions that the pilots did not have actual control of the airliner because it was being towed from the gate with its main engines off when police ordered it stopped.

"Within the aviation community, it was clear they were operating this aircraft," Assistant State Attorney Armando Hernandez said.

Assistant State Attorney Deisy Rodriguez said the jury sent a message of zero tolerance for those who operate vehicles under the influence of alcohol, especially people who are responsible for others.

"We have protected some lives today," Rodriguez said.

The Airbus 319 jet was bound for Phoenix and carrying 117 passengers and crew. It was being pushed back on July 1, 2002 from its gate at Miami International Airport when police ordered it to return.

Security screeners had smelled a strong odor of alcohol on Hughes, and Cloyd had gotten into an argument over his attempt to bring a prohibited cup of coffee aboard.

The pilots had shared 14 beers at a bar the night before, ending their revelry about 4:40 a.m. - roughly six hours before the flight was to depart. Hours later, their blood-alcohol levels were above 0.08 percent - the level at which drivers in Florida are considered to be impaired.

Cloyd of Peoria, Ariz., and Hughes of Leander, Texas, were fired by America West and lost their commercial pilots' licenses.

[Last modified June 9, 2005, 01:15:21]