Canada: Air India Pilot Accused Of Drinking Alcohol Before Takeoff In Vancouver

Vancouver: In a massive embarrassment to Air India, one of its pilots was offloaded before take-off in Vancouver for allegedly consuming alcohol. The incident took place on December 23.

What was the incident?

According to reports in the local media, a staff working at the Vancouver airport allegedly spotted the pilot consuming wine and buying alcohol before a scheduled flight, following which a complaint was lodged with the airport authorities. Subsequently, a breathalyser test was conducted, which reportedly confirmed that the pilot had consumed alcohol, leading to his offloading from the flight.
Officials at the Vancouver airport reportedly expressed concerns over the pilot's ability to perform duties safely, following which the individual was taken for further enquiry. The incident resulted in a delay for passengers on board flight AI186.

What did Air India say?

"In accordance with safety protocols, an alternate pilot was rostered to operate the flight," an Air India spokesperson said in a statement. 

The statement added that the incident forced Air India to launch an urgent process of identifying and assigning a replacement for the pilot, which consumed additional time, which contributed to the overall delay of the flight. However, the airline reiterated that these steps were necessary to ensure that all safety protocols wee complied with before the flight could takeoff.

The airline also apologised for the inconvenience and expressed its readiness to cooperate with Canadian authorities.

"Air India regrets the inconvenience caused to its passengers and is fully cooperating with the local authorities," the spokesperson said.

“Pending the outcome of the ongoing investigation, the pilot has been removed from flying duties,” the statement added.

"Air India maintains a zero-tolerance policy towards any violation of applicable rules and regulations."

Passengers were provided with refreshments and support during the delay. Air India asserted that any future violations will be met with "strict disciplinary action in line with company policy," and reiterated its commitment to ensuring safety at all times.

The airline also said that it will review its internal procedures in order to prevent similar incidents in the future.