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MINNEAPOLIS (AP)

Pilot charged in alcohol incident in Mpls.

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An American Eagle pilot has been charged with three gross misdemeanors after authorities say he failed a blood-alcohol test as he prepared to fly out of the Minneapolis airport in January.

Forty-eight-year-old Kolbjorn Jarle Kristiansen was arrested at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport on Jan. 4 after airport police smelled alcohol on his breath before a flight to New York City.

Authorities say a preliminary test revealed a blood-alcohol concentration of 0.107 percent. The limit for commercial pilots is 0.04.

Kristiansen, of Raleigh, N.C., was charged Tuesday with three counts related to attempting to operate an aircraft under the influence of alcohol.

A message left at his home was not immediately returned.

Kristiansen's attorney told MPR News the pilot never took any step to try to operate the plane.

Martin Moylan contributed reporting to this story.