2 Air India pilots on Haj flight skip booze test, suspended

NEW DELHI: Flying licences of two Air India captains operating a Haj charter from Ahmedabad to Medina have been suspended for skipping pre-flight breath analyser (BA) tests which are conducted to ensure that only perfectly sober crew operate flights. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has taken this action for AI 5731 operated this Monday. Crew members skipping this test are construed to have failed the same – meaning they are considered to be tipsy and are punished accordingly.
“…flight crew is required to undergo pre-flight medical examination for detection of consumption of alcohol… (Two pilots, both captains) belonging to AI missed pre-flight BA examination on September 2 at Ahmedabad and operated flight AI 5731 (Ahmedabad-Medina) which is (against rules)… hereby suspend in public interest the licence held by (both) for a period of three months from Wednesday (September 4), the date from which they were off-rostered from flying duties,” says the order issued by DGCA on Thursday.