The senior pilot, who has even flown Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the past, had flunked the mandatory test last year too.
Two Air India pilots were grounded on Sunday after one of them was found drunk in the cockpit and another skipped the mandatory breathalyser test.
Captain Arvind Kathpalia, chief of operations, had an unacceptably high blood alcohol count shortly before he was scheduled to command the AI-11, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, on a flight between New Delhi and London.
The senior pilot, who has even flown Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the past, had flunked the mandatory test last year too.
Captain Kathpalia faces a three-year ban from operating commercial jetliners as per aviation regulator DGCA directives. Aircraft rules prohibit crew members from having any alcoholic drink 12 hours prior to the commencement of a flight, and mandate them to undergo alcohol tests before and after each trip.
According to reports, a court had directed the Delhi police to register a case against him for violating aviation rules, tampering with evidence and intimidating a doctor employed by Air India.
In the second 'high' incident, an AI flight from Delhi to Bangkok was forced to return minutes after takeoff when it was noticed that the co-pilot had skipped the brethalyser test.
After flying the plane back to the Indira Gandhi International Airport, the pilot as well as the co-pilot reportedly left from their duty and airline officials were unable to give any answer to the passengers. This led to flight getting delayed by hours. Sources said the pilot has been grounded for three months.
AI spokesperson was not available for comments.
ALCOHOL RULES
Aircraft rules prohibit crew members from having any alcoholic drink 12 hours prior to the commencement of a flight, and mandate them to undergo alcohol tests before and after each trip.
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