An Air India pilot failed an alcohol breath analyser test after landing an international flight and has been suspended while an inquiry is conducted into his case, an airline official said
on Thursday.
Air India pilots undergo tests to check if they have consumed alcohol both before and after flights.
The pilot in question failed the test after he landed an early morning flight on Wednesday from Sharjah, in the United Arab Emirates, to the Indian city of Kozhikode, an Air India spokeswoman said.
"This is a serious offence. The pilot has been de-rostered. The safety of passengers is a priority for us," the official said.
"Failing the post-flight medical test ... is a grave safety violation as the pilot has operated a flight with passengers on board under the influence of alcohol," the Hindustan Times newspaper quoted a source in India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) as
saying.
The incident comes amid concern about what is being seen as an increase in the number of drunk pilots.
India's federal Civil Aviation Ministry submitted data to parliament in July saying there were 43 cases of pilots failing pre-flight medical examinations in 2015 due to alcohol consumption. There were 26 cases in 2014.
According to DGCA rules, a pilot is suspended for three months for a first offence, three years for the second and his/her licence is cancelled if they fail an alcohol test the third time.
Picture used for illustrative purpose only.
