Northwest says fired co-pilot had little contact with captain, crew before flight

EAGAN (AP) -- A Northwest Airlines official said the crew flying with a co-pilot who was fired for allegedly being under the influence of alcohol had no significant contact with him before the flight.

Northwest Vice President Jeff Carlson said the company interviewed the captain of the crew and the flight attendants.

He said the captain and flight attendants had no contact with Timothy McCourt, of Las Vegas, for 12 hours before the flight. Only the captain had contact with him right before and during the flight.

"None of the Northwest personnel interviewed reported anything usual about the appearance or demeanor of the pilot in question," Carlson said in a prepared statement.

McCourt failed two blood alcohol tests following a flight from San Antonio to Minneapolis on Thursday morning. Carlson said Northwest will continue to forward all information to the Federal Aviation Administration.

"We consider this matter to be of the utmost importance and that this individual's actions constitute a profound violation of the trust placed in him by Northwest and by the public," he said.