Air India has suspended a pilot after he was found intoxicated shortly before operating a flight from Zurich to Delhi, forcing the airline to delay the September 6 service until a replacement crew could be arranged.
India’s aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), said the incident was reported by Swiss authorities. It comes amid several recent cases involving Air India crew members who failed alcohol or drug tests.
An Air India official said the cockpit crew member was immediately removed from flight duty after a preliminary breath-analyser test indicated alcohol consumption. He was subsequently sent for further medical examination and later returned to India as a passenger.
The pilot will remain suspended until the final medical report is received and an internal investigation is completed, the official said. Disciplinary action will be taken based on the findings.
The DGCA has asked Air India to strengthen its internal testing and monitoring mechanisms following multiple recent incidents involving crew members and alcohol or drug screening.
Previous incidents
The latest case is not the first involving an Air India pilot and suspected alcohol impairment. In January this year, a pilot was detained at Vancouver airport after reportedly smelling of alcohol before an India-bound flight.
Air India has also recently dismissed a pilot who tested positive for drugs after operating a flight to Delhi.
The incidents have drawn additional scrutiny to the airline’s safety procedures, particularly since an Air India aircraft crashed in Ahmedabad in June last year. The regulator and airline have since placed greater emphasis on compliance with rules governing alcohol, drugs and other safety requirements for flight crew.
Air India said it maintains a “zero-tolerance” policy toward violations involving safety, security, regulatory requirements and professional conduct.
The airline said confirmed violations are subject to strict disciplinary action under company policy and applicable regulations. It added that alcohol consumption, prohibited drug use or any behaviour that could compromise a crew member’s fitness for duty is treated as a serious matter.
Following several recent failures in alcohol and drug screening, Air India has also issued fresh guidance to pilots on professional conduct and regulatory compliance. The head of flight operations reiterated to pilots that the airline has zero tolerance for consuming alcohol or prohibited substances before duty or reporting for work while under their influence.
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