Turkish Airlines cancelled a morning departure from Brussels Airport on Thursday after the co-pilot of a flight bound for Istanbul tested positive for alcohol. The aircraft was due to carry more than 100 passengers, but police intervened before departure and the service was halted at the Belgian hub.
Belgian federal police alerted aviation authorities after concerns that the co-pilot had consumed too much alcohol. The subsequent test found the crew member intoxicated, prompting immediate action by the Halle-Vilvoorde prosecutor’s office. Authorities imposed a 24-hour flight ban and opened a formal report for further investigation.
The case was also passed to the Directorate-General for Civil Aviation, which is expected to review the incident alongside any operational and regulatory implications. The published reports did not identify the co-pilot and did not disclose any longer-term sanction beyond the temporary ban.