New Delhi, Sept. 18 -- Air India Express has suspended eight crew members for three months after they failed to complete a mandatory post-flight breathalyser test within the prescribed two-hour window following an international flight.
The action relates to a Dubai-Amritsar flight that operated on August 2. After landing at Sri Guru Ram Das Jee International Airport in Amritsar, the crew was required to complete the post-flight declaration and breathalyser procedure within two hours. However, the mandatory process was completed two hours and 35 minutes after landing, resulting in a delay of 35 minutes beyond the stipulated deadline.
The airline subsequently reported the violation to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). The eight crew members were removed from duty and later suspended for three months. According to reports, all eight tested negative for alcohol. The disciplinary action concerns the delay in completing the mandatory test and not a positive alcohol result. The post-flight breathalyser test is part of the prescribed aviation safety procedures for crew members operating flights. The development comes amid increased scrutiny of psychoactive-substance testing and safety compliance among airline crew. This follows a recent incident involving an Air India Phuket-Delhi flight, which experienced a sudden loss of altitude during its journey.
Following that incident, Air India announced expanded psychoactive-substance screening for pilots across the Air India group, including Air India Express. The enhanced testing programme began in August and goes beyond the existing requirement for random testing of a minimum percentage of flight crew each year. The latest disciplinary action highlights the importance airlines place on completing mandatory post-flight safety procedures within prescribed timelines, with even delays in compliance potentially leading to regulatory reporting and disciplinary measures.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.