Air India Pilot Reportedly Drunk Before Flight
After the devastating Air India Flight 171 crash last year, Air India is in the news again:
Canada’s transport regulator has asked Air India to investigate an incident of a pilot who was removed from a plane before it was due to take off and found to be under the influence of alcohol, a person familiar with the matter said. Two breathalyser tests conducted by Canadian police at Vancouver International Airport showed the pilot was unfit for duty, the person said on Friday. The incident was labelled as a “serious matter” by Transport Canada in a letter to Air India and authorities are likely to pursue enforcement action, the person added.
In a statement, Air India said the flight from Vancouver to Delhi on December 23 experienced a last-minute delay due to the incident, adding that an alternate pilot was brought in to operate the flight. The airline said Canadian authorities raised concerns about the pilot’s fitness for duty but did not provide details.
NDTV: Air India Pilot Detained In Vancouver Over Alcohol Smell, Flight Delayed
According to reports, a staff member at the Vancouver airport’s duty-free store had alerted the Canadian authorities after he either saw the pilot drinking alcohol or noticed the smell while he was purchasing it. The authorities subjected the pilot to a breath analyser test - which he failed, and he was subsequently detained, the reports added.