Captain A.K. Kathpalia, who was to operate AI-111 flight to London from New Delhi Sunday, was replaced after his alcohol test came positive.
New Delhi: National carrier Air India Sunday grounded its chief of operations Captain A.K. Kathpalia for allegedly failing to clear the pre-flight alcohol test for the second time in a year. This time, he has been barred from flying for three years.
Exactly a year ago, Kathpalia’s licence was suspended for three months for a similar offence.
Captain Kathpalia was to operate Air India’s AI-111 flight to London from New Delhi Sunday afternoon. However, as his pre-flight alcohol test had come out to be positive, Air India had to replace the pilot to operate the flight.
The AI-111 flight was reportedly delayed by an hour following the incident. ThePrint has reached Kathpalia for comment, but there was no response until the time of publishing this report.
After his licence was suspended in 2017, Kathpalia was removed from the post of executive director, operations. However, he was later appointed to the post of director (operations) in Air India Ltd for a period of five years.
Air India did not release any official statement after Sunday’s incident. An AI spokesperson, said: “We have no comments to share.”
Also read: Drunk Air India passenger ‘urinates on elderly woman’s seat, allowed to walk away’
What Aircraft Rules say
Rule 24 of the Aircraft Rules 1937 prohibits a pilot, commander, navigator, engineer, cabin crew or other operating member of the crew from consuming “alcohol, sedative, narcotic or stimulant drug within 12 hours of the commencement of the flight”.
The rule also says that the licence holders “shall not exercise the privileges of their licences and related ratings while under the influence of any psychoactive substance which might render them unable to safely and properly exercise” such privileges.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation suspends the licence for three months in case of any violation. If the norm is flouted for the second time, the licence is suspended for three years and for a third time, it is permanently cancelled.
Too many innocent lives riding on the Commander’s judgment and ability.