Air India has taken disciplinary action against a female pilot, suspending her for three months after she failed the pre-flight breath analyzer test. The pilot, serving as a first officer for Boeing 787 flights, reportedly failed the test ahead of a scheduled flight from Delhi to Hyderabad last week.
As per the norms established by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), each crew member must undergo a pre-flight breath analyzer examination during a flight duty period. Stringent penalties are enforced for failing such tests, with consequences varying depending on the recurrence of the offense.
Under the norms, a pilot failing the breath analyzer test for the first time is suspended from flying duties for three months. Last year, the DGCA revised regulations regarding the procedure for medical examination of aircraft personnel for alcohol consumption, emphasizing the prohibition of substances with alcoholic content without consulting the company doctor beforehand.
Air India is yet to release an official statement on the matter. It's worth noting that the suspended pilot is a popular face on social media, but further details regarding the incident and the pilot's identity have not been disclosed.
