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Action taken against 8 Air India Express crew members
Air India Express has suspended eight crew members for three months for failing to complete the mandatory post-flight breathalyzer tests within the stipulated time. These include four pilots and four cabin crew members. This case is related to flight IX 192 which arrived in Amritsar from Dubai on August 2.
The flight landed at Sri Guru Ram Das Ji International Airport, Amritsar at around 9:50 am. According to the rules, after an international flight, the crew was required to undergo breath analyser test within two hours of landing.
However, in this case, the test was delayed by approximately 2 hours and 35 minutes, meaning it was delayed by approximately 35 minutes from the scheduled time limit.
Four pilots and four cabin crew members were involved.
The eight suspended personnel included two pilots-in-command, two co-pilots, and four cabin crew members of Air India. The Air India airline reported the matter to the DGCA and all eight crew members were subsequently removed from duty.
According to the report, after the flight reached Amritsar, the crew completed the necessary post-arrival procedures. Meanwhile, it came to light that one of the crew members was unwell.
The crew then went to their designated hotel and later returned to the airport for a breathalyzer test. The investigation took place after the stipulated time limit.
All Air India crew members tested negative.
The crucial aspect of this case is that when all eight crew members underwent breathalyzer tests, all tested negative. That means the investigation did not reveal any presence of alcohol in anyone’s body.
The action was taken not because of alcohol being detected in the test, but because the mandatory test was not completed within the stipulated two-hour time limit.
The airline reported the matter to the DGCA as part of the regulatory process. Following this, the crew members were removed from duty and given a three-month suspension.
The crew was busy with numerous procedures after the international flight.
According to sources, the crew has to complete several formalities after an international flight. These include logbook entries, operational reporting, customs and immigration related processes.
Meanwhile, the breath analyzer test could not be conducted on time. According to reports, the crew later went to the hotel and then returned to the airport and got tested.
However, it is necessary to adhere to the timelines prescribed in the regulatory rules. For this reason, the delay in testing was considered a violation of procedure and the airline took disciplinary action.
Post-flight testing is mandatory under DGCA regulations.
Crew on international flights operated by Indian airlines are required to undergo alcohol testing within a specified time after landing in India. The objective of this arrangement is to ensure safety and regulatory compliance in flight operations.
Air India Express itself brought the matter to the notice of DGCA. After this, as per rules, action was taken to remove the crew from duty and suspend them.
In this incident, non-adherence to the deadline despite all eight members testing negative has been considered a serious procedural lapse.
Questions have also been raised about the post-flight testing system.
Following the incident, discussions have also begun regarding the post-flight breathalyzer testing system in the aviation sector. Federation of Indian Pilots President Captain CS Randhawa has raised questions about the current system of post-flight checks.
He says that earlier Air India had a system of checking the crew both before and after the flight. However, this is a comment from a representative of a pilot organization and should not be seen as a regulatory conclusion.
In the present case, investigation has not confirmed that any crew member was under the influence of alcohol. The action has been taken due to delay in the scheduled investigation.
Three-month suspension, emphasis on adherence to rules now in place
Following Air India Express’s action, all eight crew members have been suspended for three months. The airline has followed the regulatory process by informing the DGCA about the matter.
This incident has once again demonstrated the importance of timely completion of prescribed safety and compliance procedures after an international flight. The test did not reveal the presence of alcohol, but conducting the test outside the prescribed time limit was considered a violation of the rules.
At present, the matter is related to the procedural lapse of the crew and the subsequent disciplinary action. There is an emphasis on adherence to prescribed safety protocols in such cases at the airline and regulatory level.
