‘How ashamed I am:’ Pilot pleads guilty to being impaired on Calgary flight
CALGARY – A pilot who passed out in a cockpit before a scheduled flight says he is ashamed and filled with remorse.
Miroslav Gronych pleaded guilty in a Calgary court Tuesday to having control and care of an aircraft while impaired. He was employed by Sunwing Airlines on a work visa from Slovakia when he was found slumped over in his seat and was escorted off the plane Dec. 31.
The flight was scheduled to leave Calgary with stops in Regina and Winnipeg before continuing to Cancun, Mexico.
“I can’t even describe how ashamed I am,” he told court. “My kids will be punished for my mistakes.”