AI pilot, cabin crew grounded after failing alcohol test

A woman pilot and another crew member of the State-owned Air India have been grounded for three months after they failed a pre-flight alcohol test.

The crew members, who have been taken off from flying for failing to clear the pre-flight medical test were to operate Air India’s Rajkot flight from New Delhi on January 25, sources said.

Violating safety

As part of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) safety regulations, all pilots and cabin crew must undergo a breath analyser test before and after flights.

Incidentally, the airline’s head of operations, himself a senior executive pilot, is facing a probe for allegedly skipping the mandatory test.

“The woman pilot and cabin crew, along with other operating crew were rostered for Air India flight AI-9631 on January 25 for Rajkot from New Delhi. After they reported for duty, as per norms, they were told to undertake breath analyser test. However, the findings were positive,” a source said.

The matter was reported to the DGCA and the two crew members were taken off for flying for three months, the source said.

No comment from AI

The Air India spokesperson, meanwhile, was not available for comments.

Aircraft rules prohibit crew members from taking any alcoholic drink 12 hours prior to the commencement of a flight.

Any crew member who tests positive in the pre-flight medical check or refuses to take a breath-analyser test is required to be taken off flying duty for at least four weeks and the airline is required to initiate disciplinary proceedings. —PTI