Norwegian police detain Ukrainian crew of cargo airplane en route to Baku on suspicion of alcohol intoxication

The seven Ukrainians were taken into custody at Flesland Airport, which serves Norway's second largest city of Bergen, after airport security officials believed that they smelled of alcohol before an early morning flight, said Asbjoern Andersen, operations leader for the district police.

"Now they are being blood-tested, and will be interrogated," he said by telephone. "Their embassy has also been informed." He said the navigator and the radio operator were also among those detained.

The suspects were part of a 17-member crew on the Antonov-124, which is the world's largest propellor plane. The planes were built in Russia during the Soviet era. Police said the plane's ownership was not immediately clear.

The aircraft was in western Norway to pick up oil industry equipment for transport to Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan.

Andersen said the maximum penalty for such cases in Norway is a two-year prison term. The Associated Press

/The International Herald Tribune/