In 2007, Kathpalia who was flying the AI One carrying then PM Manmohan Singh to Moscow allegedly forgot to lower landing gear.
New Delhi: Arvind Kathpalia, Air India’s senior pilot who has been sacked from his job as director, operations, after he failed a pre-flight alcohol test for the second time, had allegedly compromised the safety of previous prime minister Manmohan Singh on a flight to Moscow in November 2007, ThePrint has learnt.
Kathpalia, who was the executive commander of Air India One — the prime minister’s special flight to Moscow on 11 November, 2007 — allegedly “forgot to lower the landing gear and the crew did so only after being alerted by Moscow air traffic controller and warning signs in the cockpit”.
This serious allegation is part of a letter written by Capt. T. Praveen Keerthi, general secretary of the Indian Commercial Pilots Association, to the minister of civil aviation Monday, asking why Air India has repeatedly failed to take action against Kathpalia despite a series of complaints against him.
Keerthi told ThePrint that copies of his letter were sent to the Prime Minister’s Office as well.
“Flight Safety was jeopardised by Capt. Arvind Kathpalia on AI ONE on 11th Nov 2007. AI 001 Flying the then Prime Minister forgot to lower the landing gear and the crew did so only after being alerted by Moscow Air traffic controller and Warning Signs in the cockpit,” Keerthi said in the letter which has been accessed by ThePrint.
“This serious lapse in Flight Safety was suppressed by Capt. A. Kathpalia who was the executive commander of the flight,” the letter reads.
In response to WhatsApp messages from ThePrint, Kathpalia said: “What executive commander? There was one Capt who was flying (& copilot). Becos of duty time limitations I went in passenger seat to operate back.
“But the enquiry conducted did not evidence any late gear down. So ur info is false. Possibly supported by some made up animation video. (sic)”
The civil aviation ministry spokesperson did not respond to calls and text messages seeking comment from ThePrint. The report will be updated when he responds.
Also read: Air India’s chief of operations fails alcohol test 2nd time in a year, grounded for 3 years
AI promoted Kathpalia after he failed breath test in 2017
The ICPA letter also accuses Air India of promoting Kathpalia after he was barred for three months after he failed his first breathalyser test in January 2017.
Kathpalia, it alleges, even tried to fudge the breathalyser records in 2017 by antedating the entry of his flights from Delhi-Bengaluru and back to Delhi.
In August 2018, Delhi’s chief metropolitan magistrate directed Delhi Police to lodge an FIR against Kathpalia for “tampering with evidence and intimidating a doctor working with the airlines” when he sought to cover up the results of his positive breathalyser test on 19 January, 2017.
After he failed the test in January 2017, Kathpalia, who was then executive director (operations), was promoted to the Air India board as director (operations), an appointment that has to be cleared by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet.
But Kathpalia was in trouble again after he failed the breathalyser test before his Delhi-London flight Sunday.
“The privileges of his licence have been suspended for a period of three years from 11.11.2018 as per the provisions of applicable regulations,” a spokesperson at the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said in a statement.
Aircraft rules prohibit crew from having any alcoholic beverage 12 hours before a flight, and mandate them to undergo alcohol tests before and after each trip.
This article was updated after Capt. Kathpalia responded to questions from ThePrint.
“After he failed the test in January 2017, Kathpalia, who was then executive director (operations), was promoted to the Air India board as director (operations), an appointment that has to be cleared by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet.”
The above is quote from the article. Will the then members of “Appointments Committee of the Cabinet” be questioned about Mr Kathpalia’s appointment? Just as bank managers are (rightly) questioned about the loans they sanctioned?
This promotion was okayed in 2017, right under the nose of the present government.
Had this happened on Air Force One, the Commander would have been sent home.