AN airline pilot accused of turning up drunk for a transatlantic flight at Manchester Airport has been cleared by a jury after a three-day trial.

American James Yates, aged 46, was allegedly almost six-and-a-half times the drink limit to fly an aircraft, Minshull Street Crown Court, Manchester heard.

Yates is a first officer with American Airlines and was to be one of the three pilots on a long-haul flight carrying 181 passengers from Manchester Airport to Chicago on February 11 last year.

The jury heard he had been out for a drinking session in Manchester the night before he was due to fly.

Yates told the court he never intended to be part of the crew for the flight, adding he only turned up at the airport to inform the flight captain he would be unable to perform his duties.