A celebrity helicopter pilot who was forced to land at Van Nuys Airport on Sunday after veering too close to a police chopper has a history with the Federal Aviation Administration, according to the Web site TMZ.com.
TMZ.com reported Tuesday that pilot David Martz was reported to the FAA in 2007. That incident involved pictures of Martz flying with a topless woman.
TMZ.com reported that it obtained an e-mail -- sent to the FAA -- that included the pictures and details of past incidents. The Web site reported that FAA officials said a formal complaint against Martz was not filed.
Martz was carrying rocker Tommy Lee at about 10:45 a.m. Sunday during the incident over Glendale, said Los Angeles police Officer Karen Smith. The pilot, contacted on the ground, told police he had been drinking after landing, and he was taken to be tested for intoxication, TMZ.com reported.
"(The pilot) was flying rather erratically, and he did get close to one of our helicopters," Smith said. "The tower over the area was concerned about his flying too."
Smith said the pilot landed on his own. The pilot taken to the LAPD's Van Nuys Station and later released. He apparently was not booked for a crime pending the outcome of an intoxication test.
"Tommy Lee was a passenger aboard the helicopter, but he had nothing to do with the situation; so he was just released," Smith said.
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TMZ.com reported that the FAA confirmed it has disciplined Martz four times.
