A JetBlue pilot was removed from a flight because he had a blood-alcohol level four times the legal limit

The pilot was removed from duty after he was accused of attempting to fly while intoxicated, the airline confirmed to Insider.

An airline spokesman told Insider that the safety of their customers and crew members is their first priority. We are investigating ourselves. The crewmember was removed from his duties.

The pilot was given a breathalyzer after a TSA agent thought he may be impaired during the pilot's security check, according to a Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority spokesman.

The pilot had a blood alcohol concentration four times greater than the legal limit for pilots, according to the agency, which said he may face federal charges.

The flight was supposed to leave New York at 6 a.m. but was delayed for four hours and 10 minutes.

The airline emphasized in its statement that it follows a very strict zero-tolerance internal alcohol policy and that itadhures to all DOT rules and requirements concerning alcohol at all times.

The FAA states that pilots can't consume alcohol within eight hours of a flight, and has a brochure detailing pilot safety in relation to alcohol. Some companies impose longer limits than the agency does. USA Today reported that United Airlines changed its requirement to 12 hours prior to duty after two pilots were caught drunk.