Air India Express Suspends 8 Crew Members Over Delayed Breathalyser Test

Air India Express Suspends 8 Crew Members Over Delayed Breathalyser Test

Air India Express has suspended eight crew members for three months after they failed to complete a mandatory post-flight breathalyser test within the prescribed two-hour period. The crew was operating a Dubai-Amritsar international flight on August 2 and was required to complete the test after landing at Sri Guru Ram Das Jee International Airport in Amritsar.

The flight was delayed by 35 minutes, and the eight crew members completed the required declaration two hours and 35 minutes after landing. The airline reported the violation to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), removed the crew from duty and subsequently imposed three-month suspensions. All eight reportedly tested negative for alcohol.

The action follows increased scrutiny of substance testing in aviation after an Air India Phuket-Delhi flight experienced a sudden altitude loss of around 300 feet in August. The incident prompted testing of the aircraft’s pilots, with the captain later testing positive for marijuana in a confirmatory test. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau classified the episode as a serious incident and began an investigation.

Following that incident, Air India introduced mandatory psychoactive-substance screening for pilots across the Air India Group, including Air India Express, going beyond the existing requirement for random annual testing of at least 10% of flight crew. The expanded programme began on August 13 and includes testing during training, after flights and at designated bases.

Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu has also said the government was considering annual drug testing for all pilots instead of the current random-testing requirement.

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Published: 6h ago

cricket blog team

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