Canada asks Air India to probe pilot removed over alcohol use

Air India said a Vancouver-Delhi flight was delayed on Dec. 23 and an alternate pilot operated the flight

Canada’s transport regulator has asked Air India to investigate an incident in which a pilot was removed from an aircraft before takeoff after being found 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 source said on Friday. Transport Canada described the incident as a “serious matter” in a letter to Air India and is likely to pursue enforcement action, the person added. The source requested anonymity as they were not authorised to speak to the media. Transport Canada did not respond to an emailed request for comment outside regular working hours.

In a statement, Air India said the flight from Vancouver to Delhi on Dec. 23 experienced a last-minute delay due to the incident and 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 further details.

“The pilot has been taken off flying duties during the process of enquiry. Air India maintains a zero-tolerance policy towards any violation of applicable rules and regulations,” the airline said. “Pending the outcome of the investigation, any confirmed violation will attract strict disciplinary action in line with company policy.”

The aircraft involved was a Boeing 777, a model that can seat up to 344 passengers, according to the websites of Flightradar24 and Air India.

The letter from Transport Canada official Ajit Oommen asked Air India to submit its findings and details of steps taken to prevent future occurrences by Jan. 26, the source said.

Air India has been under heightened scrutiny since a June 12 crash involving a Boeing Dreamliner that killed 260 people. India’s aviation regulator has flagged multiple safety lapses at the airline, which was government-owned until 2022.

Pilots at Air India, owned by Tata Group and Singapore Airlines, have also come under scrutiny. This week, India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) sent warning notices to four Air India pilots, citing “serious safety concerns” related to regulatory compliance and flight crew decision-making.

The DGCA said the pilots accepted an aircraft for operation last year despite prior knowledge of “repeated snags” and “existing systems degradations,” according to warning notices dated Dec. 29 seen by Reuters. The aircraft involved was a Boeing 787 used for long-haul flights, according to Flightradar24.

Earlier this year, the DGCA proposed tighter rules on alcohol testing for crew members, including a measure that would permanently revoke a pilot’s licence after three positive tests. Current rules require post-flight breathalyser examinations at the first port of landing in India. Canadian regulations prohibit pilots from operating an aircraft within 12 hours of consuming alcohol.