Air India first officer suspended after failing alcohol test before Zurich-Delhi flight
The pilot was removed from the aircraft before departure on 6 September, weeks after another Air India pilot tested positive for marijuana.
An Air India first officer has been suspended after failing an alcohol test shortly before a scheduled Zurich-Delhi flight on 6 September, the airline said.
The pilot was removed from the aircraft shortly before take-off after authorities suspected he had consumed alcohol. He failed a preliminary alcohol test, while the result of a secondary test conducted in Zurich is awaited, Air India officials said.
The first officer was later repatriated to India as a passenger and remains suspended pending the final medical examination report, they said.
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The incident meant Air India flight AI 151 could not operate as scheduled and was flown to Delhi the following day.
"Air India maintains a zero-tolerance policy towards any violation of safety, regulatory or company protocols. Any confirmed breach is dealt with firmly and action in accordance with regulatory requirements and company policy is enforced," the airline said.
Air India said it had also reiterated to all flight crew the importance of operating with the highest standards of safety, professionalism and integrity.
The airline conducts regular awareness and compliance training, mandates testing for psychoactive substances and enforces strict disciplinary measures that may go beyond minimum regulatory requirements, it said.
Another Air India pilot tested positive for marijuana
The latest incident comes weeks after another Air India pilot tested positive for marijuana following a flight from Phuket to Delhi that experienced a sudden loss of altitude on 4 August.
The pilot in command of flight AI-2379, Sudeep Vashistha, tested positive for marijuana twice and was subsequently dismissed.
The Airbus A320neo, carrying 137 passengers and eight crew members, suddenly lost around 300 feet of altitude while flying over Odisha. More than 20 passengers and four crew members were injured before the aircraft landed safely in Delhi.
In a flight safety statement, Vashistha said he had been taking prescribed medication for sleep difficulties related to personal circumstances.
He said that during the layover he had tried to rest but found it difficult to sleep, and decided that light activity such as walking would help with his sleep.
Air India orders fresh dope tests
Following the incident, Air India ordered fresh mandatory dope tests for all its pilots.
The airline also introduced additional measures to strengthen employee compliance, including mandatory testing for psychoactive substances, enhanced awareness programmes, reinforced reporting obligations and continued monitoring of compliance trends and operational conduct.
