DGCA suspends for three months flying licence of AI head of pilots for skipping alcohol test

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Wednesday suspended for three months the flying licence of Air India’s chief of pilots and executive director (operations), Captain Arvind Kathpalia.

The unprecedented action against such a senior pilot comes after the regulator found that he had reportedly skipped the mandatory pre-flight breath analyser (BA) tests, conducted to ensure only sober pilots get in cockpits to fly.

The DGCA move comes a week after the airline had grounded Captain Kathpalia for three months after a preliminary probe by AI found he had skipped BA tests.