Air India sacks pilot who failed pre-flight alcohol test; ICPA calls him a "repeated offender"

Air India's Director of Operations, Arvind Kathpalia, on Tuesday, has been sacked from his post, a day after his flying license got suspended for three years by Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)

This decision came after Indian Commercial Pilots' Association (ICPA) called for an immediate removal of Kathpalia from national carrier's board calling him a 'repeated offender' who is responsible for putting lives of his passengers in danger.   

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airlines grounded its chief of operations Captain A K Kathpalia after he allegedly failed to clear pre-flight alcohol test, while ar Air India flight was delayed by over six hours after a pilot forgot to undergo mandatory breath analyser test, airline sources said.

Kathpalia was to operate airline's London-New Delhi flight on Sunday afteron. Air India h to call ar pilot to replace him and operate flight (AI-111), which departed after a delay of 55 minutes, causing inconvenience to passengers, an airline source said.

"We have grounded Capt A K Kathpalia as he failed twice in breath analyser test. He was to operate London flight from New Delhi, but he failed to clear pre-flight alcohol test. He was given ar chance, but second test was also found positive following which he was grounded," he said.

co-pilot involved in incident has been grounded for three months as per DGCA rules for skipping pre-flight alcohol test, source said.

Rule 24 of Aircraft Rules prohibits crew members from partaking any alcoholic drink 12 hours prior to commencement of a flight, and it is mandatory for him/her to undergo an alcohol test both before and after operating a flight.

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prescribed punishment for such offenses under DGCA rules is suspension of flying license for three months in case of first breach. For violating rms for second time, license is suspended for three years and for a third time, licence is permanently canceled.