Air India captain grounded for failing pre-flight breath analyser test

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Air India on Sunday grounded its chief of operations Captain A K Kathpalia after he allegedly failed to clear a pre-flight alcohol test, a senior airline official said.

Kathpalia was to operate the airline's London-New Delhi flight on Sunday afternoon. Air India had to call another pilot to replace him and operate the flight which departed after a delay of 55 minutes, an airline source said.

"We have grounded Capt A K Kathpalia as he failed twice in the breath analyser test. He was to operate the London flight from New Delhi, but he failed to clear the pre-flight alcohol test," the official said. "He was given another chance, but the second test was also found positive," he said.

Rule 24 of Aircraft Rules prohibits crewmembers from partaking any alcoholic drink 12 hours prior to the commencement of a flight, and it is mandatory for him/her to undergo an alcohol test both before and after the flight.

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