Mumbai, November 13: Air India pilot Arvind Kathpalia, who was grounded earlier this week, has been sacked as Director of Operations for failing an alcohol test before his flight. Captain Kathpalia was to operate Air India’s London-bound AI-111 flight from New Delhi on Sunday afternoon. The flight was scheduled to take off at 2:45 PM on Sunday afternoon but after much delay, it finally departed at 4 PM.

After Kathpalia failed the mandatory pre-flight alcohol test, DGCA official today said Kathpalia has tested 'BA positive' on November 11 and the privileges of his licence have been suspended for a period of three years. Aviation regulator DGCA had also suspended the Kathpalia's flying licence after he failed the breath analyser (BA) test.

“The privileges of his licence have been suspended for a period of three years from 11.11.2018 as per the provisions of applicable regulations,” a spokesperson at the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said in a statement. Air India Pilot Arvind Kathpalia Fails Breath Analyser Test Before Flight, Grounded For Three Years. 

Capt Kathpalia, who is also part of the Board of Directors of the national carrier went to the medical room for the test around 1.30pm on Sunday. This is the second time that Kathpalia has been in trouble over the BA tests.  In 2007, he was suspended for three months for allegedly refusing to take the BA test. It must be noted that it is mandatory for them to undergo a breath analyser test both before and after operating a flight. Air India 332 Delhi-Bangkok Flight Returns After Co-Pilot Fails Breath Analyser Test, Senior Pilot Arvind Kathpalia to Fly DEL-LON AI-111 Declared ‘Not Fit to Fly’.

Any crew member who tests positive in the pre-flight medical check or refuses to take a breath-analyser test is required to be taken off flying duty for at least four weeks. If this happens, the airline is required to initiate disciplinary proceedings. Reports inform that under Rule 24 of the Aircraft Rules, crew members are prohibited from consuming any alcoholic drink 12 hours prior to the commencement of a flight.

The prescribed punishment for such offences under the DGCA rules is a suspension of flying licence for three months in case of the first breach. Reports inform that for violating the norms for the second time, the licence is suspended for three years and for a third time, the licence is permanently cancelled.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 13, 2018 04:51 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).