Canada’s transport regulator has asked Air India to investigate an incident involving a pilot who reported for duty under the influence of alcohol and failed two breathalyser tests, a person familiar with the matter said. The tests were conducted by Canadian police at Vancouver International Airport after the pilot was asked to leave the aircraft, the person said.
Transport Canada described the incident as a “serious matter” in a letter to Air India, and authorities are expected to consider enforcement action, the source added. The individual spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to address the media. Transport Canada did not respond to a request for comment outside regular hours.
Air India confirmed that the December 23 flight from Vancouver to Delhi was delayed due to the incident. An alternate pilot was brought in to operate the flight. In a statement, the airline said the pilot has been taken off flying duties during the ongoing inquiry. “Air India maintains a zero-tolerance policy towards any violation of applicable rules and regulations,” the statement read. “Pending the outcome of the investigation, any confirmed violation will attract strict disciplinary action in line with company policy.”
The Transport Canada letter, signed by official Ajit Oommen, requested that Air India provide its investigation findings and describe steps to prevent future incidents by January 26, according to the person familiar with the matter.
The incident comes amid heightened scrutiny of Indian aviation following the June 12 crash of a Boeing Dreamliner that killed 260 people. India’s aviation regulator has highlighted multiple safety lapses at Air India, which was fully privatised in 2022 after being state-owned.
Air India pilots have faced increased oversight in recent months. This week, India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) issued warning notices to four Air India pilots, citing “serious safety concerns” linked to regulatory compliance and flight crew decision-making. The notices, dated December 29 and reviewed by Reuters, said the pilots accepted an aircraft for operation last year despite knowing of repeated technical snags and degraded systems.
The aircraft involved in the DGCA warnings was a Boeing 787, used for long-haul flights, according to Flightradar24. The combination of international and domestic scrutiny highlights ongoing challenges for Air India as it operates under new private ownership while addressing regulatory and safety expectations.
The Vancouver incident underscores global concerns about airline safety protocols and the critical role of regulatory enforcement in ensuring passenger safety. Transport Canada’s request for a full investigation signals that authorities are taking potential breaches of aviation regulations very seriously.
