Turkish Airlines flight from Brussels cancelled after co-pilot fails alcohol test

A Turkish Airlines flight from Brussels Airport to Istanbul was cancelled on Thursday, August 27th, after the co-pilot was suspected of being under the influence of alcohol.

The flight, TK1940, had been due to leave Brussels at 11:10 local time. The airline said it alerted Belgian authorities after concerns were raised about the pilot's condition ahead of departure.

A breath test reportedly confirmed the co-pilot had alcohol in his system. Rather than delay the flight to bring in a replacement crew member, the airline cancelled it outright. Passengers were affected as a result, though details on rebooking arrangements were not immediately available.

It remains unclear whether Belgian police or aviation authorities have opened a formal investigation into the incident, or whether any action has been taken against the crew member involved. Turkish Airlines has not published a detailed public statement beyond confirming the cancellation to Belgian authorities.

Alcohol testing for flight crew is standard practice at many European airports, with strict limits enforced under both airline policy and national law. Positive tests are rare, but they typically lead to the immediate removal of the crew member from duty, and can bring disciplinary or legal consequences depending on the jurisdiction involved.

No further details were available at the time of reporting regarding the co-pilot's identity, employment status, or the exact blood alcohol level recorded during testing.