Air India pilot fails alcohol test, grounded
New Delhi, Nov 11 (IBNS): Passengers of an international flight of state-run Air India faced troubles after the pilot was tested positive in the breath-analyser test, forcing a delay in the journey, reports said.
The pilot was identified as Arvind Kathpalia.
According to an Air India official, London-bound flight AI 111, which was scheduled to depart at 2:45 pm, got delayed by 45 minutes as pilot Arvind Kathpalia, who is also the director of Air India’s flight operations, tested alcohol positive at 1:30 pm, reported Hindustan Times.
The airline reportedly arranged for another pilot to operate the flight.
Kathpalia was scheduled to take command of the AI-111, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, on a flight between New Delhi and London, before he failed the test.
"A few minutes after the tests were completed and I was sitting for the pre-flight briefing in the next room, the doctor came and informed me that the test conducted in her presence was found positive. When asked why she didn't tell me right then (earlier), she said something was wrong with the machine and it was taking time to register," Captain Kathpalia told NDTV.
Captain Kathpalia now faces a three-year ban from operating commercial jetliners in accordance with DGCA directives, reported NDTV.
In another incident, Air India flight AI 332 to Bangkok returned within 30 minutes after taking off from Delhi airport after the co-pilot of the flight missed the pre-flight breathalyzer test.
According to airline sources, the pilot has been grounded for three months, during which he will undergo a refresher counselling session, reported the channel.
The flight took off later following a delay of several hours.
Image: Arvind Kathpalia Facebook page
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