AI’S Director Operations who failed alcohol test removed

NEW DELHI/CHENNAI: The Central government on Tuesday removed Air India’s Director Operations Arvind Kathpalia, after the senior pilot failed a pre-flight breath analyser test.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation, in an order on Tuesday, relieved Captain Kathpalia from his responsibilities as the Director Operations of the national passenger carrier, a day after his flying licence was suspended by aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).

“”In pursuance to Ministry of Civil Aviation order..., Captain Arvind Kathpalia has been relieved from the charge of Director Operations with immediate effect and Captain Amitabh Singh, Executive Director (Training) Air India has been assigned the additional charge of the post of Director Operations with immediate effect, till further orders,” the national passenger carrier said in a statement.

Kathpalia had failed a pre-flight alcohol detection test on Sunday. He was supposed to have piloted a New Delhi-london flight.

“In case of Captain Kathpalia being detected BA (breath-analyser) positive on November 11, 2018, the privileges of his licence have been suspended for a period of three years from November 11 as per the provisions of applicable regulations,” a senior DGCA official said on Monday.

Reacting to the development, an official with Air India’s pilots union — ICPA (Indian Commercial Pilots’ Association) — said that the prompt action by the government is a welcome move.