An Air India pilot was arrested and removed from duty at Vancouver International Airport (YVR) last month following allegations of reporting for work under the influence of alcohol, according to a report by Reuters.
Incident Details and Arrest
The Richmond RCMP confirmed the arrest occurred on December 23. Officers responded to a report concerning a crew member who was preparing to report for duty. The pilot was taken into custody at the airport.
Citing a source familiar with the matter, Reuters reported the incident involved a Boeing 777 aircraft scheduled to operate as Flight AI186 from Vancouver to Delhi, India. The pilot was removed from the flight before departure after two breathalyzer tests indicated the individual was unfit for duty.
Flight Disruption and Response
The incident caused a significant delay. The flight was delayed for several hours but departed safely later that afternoon after another pilot was brought in to operate the aircraft, according to an airport spokesperson. While a Boeing 777 is designed to be flown by two pilots, long-haul flights like this one routinely carry a third relief pilot.
In a statement, Air India apologized for the disruption and confirmed the pilot has been taken off flying duties pending the outcome of an investigation. The airline stated it maintains a zero-tolerance policy towards violations of rules and regulations, promising strict disciplinary action for any confirmed breach.
Regulatory Oversight and Consequences
Transport Canada has labelled the incident a serious matter and has asked Air India to investigate. The federal regulator stated it is aware of the incident and will continue to engage with Air India and India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to ensure appropriate follow-up actions are taken.
Under Canadian federal aviation regulations, pilots are prohibited from working:
- Within 12 hours of consuming alcohol.
- While under the influence of alcohol or drugs that could endanger the safety of the aircraft or people on board.
Failure to comply can result in licence suspension or cancellation, fines, or other legal action. Transport Canada noted that the DGCA of India, as the state of the operator, retains primary regulatory oversight responsibility for Air India.
Both Vancouver Airport Authority and the RCMP have confirmed their involvement in the response to the initial concern about the crew member, which ultimately led to the pilot's arrest and removal from the flight.
