JetBlue Pilot Arrested for Heroin Possession in Boston

A pilot for JetBlue who was arrested Sunday in a Boston drug sting for alleged heroin possession, has been grounded.

John Manwaring, 42, of Maitland, Florida, is in custody and awaiting arraignment after his arrest on one count of heroin possession during a drug transaction surveillance operation on Boston Common that netted police five other arrests, the Boston Herald reported.

JetBlue officials are "aware of the situation" and cooperating with police in the investigation, a spokeswoman told the Herald on Monday.

"The crew member in question was removed from duty last night pending the outcome of this investigation. In compliance with all [Federal Aviation Administration and Department of Transportation] regulations and requirements, JetBlue has in place a rigorous drug-testing program for crew members," JetBlue said in a statement, Boston's WCVB.com reported.

"All pilots are drug tested; all crew members must receive a negative drug test before they are offered employment with JetBlue, and we adhere to the FAA-approved random drug and alcohol testing program," JetBlue added in the statement to The Boston Globe.

Boston Police spokeswoman Officer Neva Coakley told the Herald that Manwaring on Sunday "acknowledged that he got in that day on a JetBlue flight," but told police nothing about when he was slated to fly again and depart Boston. He admitted to police he was a pilot for JetBlue, she said.

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