Air India pilot found drunk before takeoff suspended for 3 years

Arvind Kathpalia, a senior Air India pilot who failed a pre-flight breath analyser test on Sunday, has lost his licence. India’s civil aviation regulator DGCA says he’s been suspended for three years. Air India sources said Kathpalia was a repeat offender. In 2017, his flying licence was suspended for three months after he allegedly skipped a pre-flight medical test. Rule 24 of the Aircraft Rules prohibits crew members from consuming any alcoholic drink 12 hours before the start of a flight. Alcohol tests are mandatory both before and after operating a flight.