25 September,2026 04:23 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondent
There was no official statement from Air India on the incident. Representational pic
Air India has suspended a pilot who failed a breath analyser test at Zurich airport earlier this month before he was scheduled to operate a flight to Delhi, officials said on Friday.
The airline is also taking steps to strengthen regulatory compliance and curb violations, they added.
The incident took place on September 6, days after Air India terminated the services of the pilot-in-command of a Phuket-Delhi flight who had tested positive for drug use, news agency PTI reported.
According to officials, the pilot was scheduled to operate Air India flight AI151 from Zurich to Delhi on September 6. At the airport, he reportedly smelt of alcohol. Air India officials subsequently voluntarily informed the local authorities, following which requisite action was taken, they said.
There was no official statement from Air India.
In the Zurich incident, the pilot was immediately removed from operating duties after local authorities provided a preliminary breath analyser test report, officials said. He was then referred for further medical evaluation.
The pilot was subsequently repatriated to India as a passenger and remains under suspension pending the final medical examination report and completion of the investigation.
Appropriate disciplinary action will be taken based on the findings, officials said.
A Swiss Federal Office of Civil Aviation (FOCA) Spokesperson told PTI on Friday that necessary measures were taken in accordance with applicable national and international regulations.
"The operator and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation of India (DGCA) have been informed accordingly. As a result, flight AI151 from Zurich to Delhi could not be operated as scheduled," the spokesperson said.
Citing data protection requirements, the FOCA Spokesperson said the office could not provide further details about the case.
"The responsibility for the further handling of this case lies with the DGCA as the competent authority of the State of the Operator, to which any further enquiries should be addressed," the spokesperson said in an email response.
In the wake of recent incidents, including a pilot testing positive for drug use, Air India is strengthening accountability across flight operations, officials said.
Apart from mandatory testing of pilots for psychoactive substances, the airline is continuously monitoring compliance trends and operational conduct. It is also enhancing awareness programmes focused on safety-critical responsibilities and increasing leadership engagement with flight crew, they added.
According to officials, where violations have been established, the airline has taken disciplinary action, including suspension and termination of employment, depending on the nature and severity of the non-compliance.
On September 4, Air India terminated the services of the pilot-in-command of a Phuket-Delhi flight after he tested positive for drug use.
The move came hours after the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), in its preliminary report into the Phuket flight incident of August 4, described the pilot's drug use as a serious concern and asked aviation regulator DGCA to take appropriate action.
The Phuket-Delhi flight, operated by an A320 aircraft, suddenly lost nearly 300 feet in altitude, leaving several people on board injured.
In its preliminary report, the AAIB said the aircraft, which was carrying 145 people, suffered a near-simultaneous loss of all three hydraulic systems while cruising at 36,000 feet. This triggered an autopilot disconnect, a brief stall warning and an altitude upset that injured 24 people.
(With PTI inputs)
