Another alcohol safety test for Air India

An Air India pilot was removed from a flight at Zurich airport due to alcohol intoxication, leading to the grounding of the aircraft and an investigation by Switzerland's aviation regulator. The incident, which took place on September 6, is part of a growing pattern of Air India crew members breaking safety rules, including one case where a pilot operated a plane under the influence of drugs.

The pilot's blood alcohol content exceeded the permissible limit, resulting in the cancellation of flight AI 151 from Zurich to Delhi. Both Air India and IndiGo adhere to a zero-tolerance policy for alcohol consumption, even trace amounts being considered a violation. The Swiss Federal Office of Civil Aviation (FOCA) imposed sanctions on the pilot and notified India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) about the incident.

The DGCA is now responsible for handling the case, as the operator's state authority. The regulator has urged Air India to strengthen safety measures, and a US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) audit looms, potentially prompting restrictions on Indian airlines' American operations. Senior pilots attributed the lapses to a disconnect between management and cockpit crews, emphasizing the need for better attention to the flying pilots.

While some officials defended the Zurich incident as a result of the airline's safety monitoring system, others stressed the importance of addressing bad apples in the system. The airline has reinforced its zero-tolerance policy and emphasized that confirmed breaches are dealt with firmly, in accordance with regulatory requirements and company policy.