Senior AI pilot loses post for failing breathalyser test

Civil aviation minister Suresh Prabhu on Tuesday ordered the immediate removal of Air India’s senior official Capt. A.K. Kathpalia from the post of the airline’s director (operations). This came after aviation regulator DGCA had on Monday suspended his pilot licence for a period of three years after he failed a pre-flight breath-analyser test for alcohol consumption on Sunday in New Delhi.

The licence suspension had been for three years since Mr Kathpalia had already allegedly committed a related offence earlier — that of skipping his breathalyser test on a previous occasion last year. The DGCA had then, in February, 2017, suspended his licence for three months.

“Taking cognisance of the serious nature of the transgression and failure to course correct even after an earlier suspension of flying licence for three months, the minister of civil aviation Suresh Prabhu has accorded approval (for) relieving of Mr Kathpalia from the charge of Director (Operations), Air India, with immediate effect,” the civil aviation Ministry said in an order on Tuesday.

Another airline official has been given additional charge of the crucial post till further orders.

As per rules, if a pilot either fails the breathanalyser test or misses a breath-analyser test, the suspension of licence is for three months, but if he either fails the test twice or fails it once and misses it on another, the licence suspension is for three years. If the pilot fails the test thrice, his licence is cancelled.

In a statement, Air India said a probe had been ordered into the incident that would be carried out by its chief vigilance officer. Terming the incident in which Mr Kathpalia had failed the breath-analyser test.