Air India has taken decisive action by terminating the services of a pilot who was found to have tested positive for alcohol consumption after operating an international flight back to India. The Tata group airline is also pursuing legal action, intending to file a First Information Report (FIR) against the captain who piloted a Phuket-Delhi flight last week and underwent a breathalyser (BA) test upon arrival.
When approached for comments on this matter, Air India's response was awaited at the time of publishing. However, airline sources emphasized a zero-tolerance policy regarding such incidents. "We have zero tolerance for these things and have taken very strong action, not only terminating his service but also planning to file an FIR as operating a flight under the influence of alcohol is a criminal act. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has been informed," stated the sources.
The pilot in question was conducting a training flight for a new captain. While pilots and cabin crew operating domestic flights are required to undergo pre-flight BA tests (as alcohol is not available/served/sold on domestic flights within India), post-flight tests are conducted on flight crew operating international flights where alcohol is available.
In the first half of 2023, 33 pilots and 97 cabin crew members had failed their breathalyser tests, indicating a serious issue within the aviation sector. Failing a breathalyser test for the first time results in a three-month licence suspension. A repeated offense leads to a three-year suspension, and a third violation results in licence revocation, highlighting the stringent measures in place to ensure flight safety and compliance with regulations.
Copyright © 2025 Top Indian News
