Suspected drunk pilot kept off Omaha flight: Eppley Airfield (KOMA), Omaha, Nebraska.

• A hotel shuttle bus driver called police when he suspected the pilot was drunk
• Airport police notified the FAA
• FAA rules forbid pilots from flying within 8 hours of alcohol consumption

(CNN) -- A Chautauqua Airlines pilot was kept off a flight in Omaha, Nebraska, Thursday morning after he failed a blood-alcohol test, a spokeswoman for the Federal Aviation Administration said.

Authorities said they were tipped off by a hotel shuttle bus driver, who called airport police to report he suspected the pilot was drunk.

FAA spokeswoman Elizabeth Isham Cory said the agency is investigating the incident.

The male pilot, whose identity was not released, was scheduled to fly Frontier Flight 1894 from Omaha to Milwaukee at 6 a.m., according to the airline. Both Chautauqua and Frontier are owned by Republic Airways Holdings, Inc.

But shortly before the flight, a shuttle bus driver called the Eppley Airfield Airport Police to report his concerns about the pilot, said Chris Martin, director of operations for the Omaha Airport Authority.

"The pilot did make it through the checkpoint and he was met by our police officers near the gate of departure," Martin said.

Airport police talked to the pilot and handed the investigation over to Frontier Airlines, as well as notifying the FAA, Martin said.

Under the FAA's so-called "bottle-to-throttle" rule, pilots are prohibited from flying or performing any safety-sensitive operation within eight hours of consuming alcohol, or if they have a blood-alcohol concentration of 0.04 percent or higher. But Frontier Airlines spokeswoman Lindsey Carpenter said Frontier and Chautauqua enforce policies that are even more strict than the FAA's eight-hour rule.

The airline said 29 passengers and a three-person crew were on Flight 1984, an Embraer 145 aircraft.

"Because this is a personnel issue, we can't and won't comment on specifics other than to say that because of concern for the condition of the crew member, the crew member was replaced," Carpenter said. "Frontier and Chautauqua have a zero-tolerance policy for drugs and alcohol that has resulted in a 100% safety record for both carriers."

"Appropriate action will be taken with the crew member when our investigation is complete," she said.

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OMAHA, Neb. -- A Frontier Airlines flight from Omaha to Milwaukee was delayed Thursday morning after the pilot, suspected of being drunk, was kept from getting on the plane, according to police at Eppley Airfield.

Flight 1894, which is operated by Chautauqua Airlines, was scheduled to leave Omaha at 6 a.m. and was delayed while the airline brought in another pilot. The plane with 29 passengers and three crew members on board left just before 8 a.m.

In a prepared statement, the airline said it is investigating the allegations against the pilot, but since it's a personnel issue, the company can't comment on the specifics of the case. Frontier said it has a zero-tolerance policy for drugs and alcohol use by its employees.

Federal authorities have also begun an investigation into the incident.

Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman Elizabeth Isham Cory said Frontier Airlines had reported Thursday's incident to the FAA, as required.

Federal authorities have begun an investigation into reports that an intoxicated pilot was prevented from boarding a flight in Omaha.

Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman Elizabeth Isham Cory says Frontier Airlines reported Thursday's incident to the FAA, Cory says the pilot's certificate includes a medical as well as proficiency portion.

Frontier says its Flight 1894 to Milwaukee was scheduled to leave Eppley Airfield at 6 a.m. but was delayed for nearly two hours. The flight carried 29 passengers and three crew members, including two pilots.

The passengers waited in the terminal during the delay.

In response to an inquiry from Channel Six News, Frontier sent the following statement:

"Frontier flight 1894 from Omaha to Milwaukee, operated by Chautauqua Airlines, was delayed this morning because of concern about the condition of a scheduled crew member who had not reported for the flight."

"The flight, which was to depart at 6:00 a.m., was delayed until 7:59 and arrived without incident in Milwaukee at 9:29. The aircraft was an Embraer 145. 29 passengers and three crew (two pilots and one flight attendant) were on board."

"We are investigating allegations of impairment made against a crew member, but, because this is a personnel issue, we can’t and won’t comment on specifics other than to say that because of concern for the condition of the crew member, that crew member was replaced. Frontier and Chautauqua have a zero-tolerance policy for drugs and alcohol that has resulted in a 100% safety record for both carriers. "

"Appropriate action will be taken with the crew member when our investigation is complete. "