Malaysia Airlines pilot busted smuggling drugs, accused of flying passengers while under the influence

NewsA Malaysia Airlines pilot is in serious trouble after allegedly trying to smuggle drugs and flying under the influence. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian, File)(AP Photo/Vincent Thian, File)A Malaysia Airlines pilot could face the death penalty in Indonesia after customs officers caught him smuggling large quantities of ecstasy pills and later tested him positive for drugs.According to the New York Post, on July 29 a 39-year-old Malaysia Airlines pilot, who is only being identified as “MS,” was seen on video at a customs checkpoint at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Jakarta, Indonesia’s capital. The pilot was pulled aside for an inspection, and workers began searching his bags.During the search, a large bag of drugs was found. Indonesia’s Directorate General of Customs said officers found 57 pounds of ecstasy pills (more than 70,000 pills) and four grams of methamphetamine on the pilot.MS admitted to trying to smuggle the drugs, saying he was promised 50,000 Malaysian ringgit (which converts to $12,212 as of Wednesday) to take the drugs to a hotel in the city after the plane landed. MS also said he had smuggled drugs multiple times before he was caught.While in custody, Indonesian law enforcement also found a bottle of urine in MS’s possession, indicating MS may have been flying under the influence. The Post reported that Indonesian authorities administered their own drug test and said MS tested positive for MDMA, ecstasy, methamphetamine and cocaine, suggesting MS was flying under the influence of drugs when he piloted his flight carrying 170 passengers from Kuala Lumpur to Jakarta.The Post reported that Indonesia carries some of the harshest drug penalties in the world. MS could face the death penalty or life in prison if convicted.Chris Franklin is an NFL reporter for NJ Advance Media, covering anything and everything that has to do with the team. Chris joined the Eagles beat in 2020, spending the previous three years covering local news...