AI pilot tests positive for alcohol, Delhi-london flight gets delayed

MUMBAI: Director of operations and member of Air India’s board of directors, Arvind Kathpalia, tested positive for alcohol on a breathalyser (BA) test on Sunday afternoon, just before he was slated to operate the AI 111 Delhilondon flight.

Airline officials confirmed the incident and said Kathpalia was grounded, as per the standard operating procedure (SOP).

Consequently, the flight, carrying 200 passengers and scheduled to take off at 2.45pm, was delayed to 4pm.

S Bhullar, director general, directorate general of civil aviation (DGCA), said, “DGCA takes action in such cases, as per its regulations, after receiving a report from the concerned airline. Action is likely to be taken on Monday.”

Three official spokespersons of Air India and its chairman and managing director Pradeep Singh Kharola did not respond despite repeated calls and text messages sent to him.

“At 1.30pm, the captain’s reading shot up while performing the mandatory BA test. Twenty minutes later, when the test was conducted

a second time, the reading remained high and so the doctor declared he was under the influence of alcohol,” said a senior Air India official.

The civil aviation ministry tweeted, “HMCA @sureshpprabhu has viewed this incident... and already directed earlier that there will be zero tolerance on safety thus now has asked #DGCA to take action as per rules immediately, they are awaiting report from Air India, action will be taken ASAP.”

A second-time offender, Kathpalia faces licence suspension for three years. In January 2017, Kathpalia was suspended for three months after he refused to