35-Minute Delay in Post-Flight Breathalyser Test Leads to Crew Suspension.
Air India Express has suspended eight crew members for three months after they reportedly failed to complete a mandatory post-flight breathalyser declaration within the required two-hour period following an international flight.
The crew had operated a Dubai-Amritsar flight on August 2 and were required to complete the declaration within two hours of landing at Sri Guru Ram Das Jee International Airport in Amritsar, according to media reports.
The declaration, however, was submitted two hours and 35 minutes after landing, exceeding the prescribed deadline by 35 minutes.
Crew removed from duty
Air India Express reported the breach to India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and initially removed all eight crew members from operational duties before issuing a three-month suspension.
According to ANI, breathalyser results for all eight crew members were negative for alcohol. The disciplinary action was therefore related to the delay in completing the required post-flight declaration rather than a positive alcohol test.
The suspension was imposed for failing to meet the required post-flight testing deadline and was not linked to a positive alcohol test.
Action follows Air India flight incident
The disciplinary measure comes weeks after an Air India Phuket-Delhi flight experienced a sudden altitude loss of about 300 feet while cruising.
The incident brought renewed attention to testing procedures for psychoactive substances among airline crew members.
Both pilots underwent the prescribed screening following the incident. The pilot-in-command’s initial result required confirmatory testing, after which the DGCA removed both pilots from the flying roster while further investigation was carried out.
Air India expands pilot testing
Following the Phuket flight incident, Air India introduced mandatory psychoactive-substance screening for pilots across the Air India group, including those operating for Air India Express.
The expanded testing programme goes beyond existing regulatory rules, which require random screening of at least 10 per cent of flight crew each year.
The initiative began on August 13, with testing planned at multiple locations and at different stages of operations, including during training, after flights and at designated crew bases.
India considers annual testing for all pilots
India’s Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu said in August that the government was considering introducing a system requiring all pilots to undergo a dope test once a year.
The proposal would broaden the scope of substance screening across the aviation sector if implemented.
If introduced, the proposed system would replace the current requirement for random testing of at least 10 per cent of pilots each year, with all pilots required to undergo testing annually.
