(CNN) An American Airlines pilot has been arrested on suspicion of being drunk a few minutes before he was scheduled to take off from the UK's Manchester Airport.

Officers were called shortly before 11 a.m. on Thursday after receiving a report that a pilot "may have been under the influence of alcohol," according to a statement from Greater Manchester Police.

A 62-year-old man was arrested and has been bailed pending further inquiries, police said.

The unnamed pilot was due to fly from Manchester to Philadelphia at 11:05 a.m. (6:05 a.m. ET), but flight AA735 was canceled in the wake of his arrest, according to the UK's Press Association news agency.

In a statement, American Airlines confirmed an employee had been detained, adding: "Safety is our highest priority and we apologize to our customers for the disruption to their travel plans."

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