Air India Operations Director Arvind Kathpalia who failed pre-flight alcohol test, sacked

Nov 13 (AZINS) Air India Operations Director Arvind Kathpalia who failed to clear the mandatory pre-flight breath analyser test, has been sacked from his post, a day after his flying license was suspended.

Kathpalia has been relieved from the charge with immediate effect.

"Ministry of Civil Aviation has relieved Arvind Kathpalia from charge of Director (operations) of Air India," said Air India spokesperson. However, Kathpalia will remain to be an employee of Air India.

On Monday, Aviation regulator DGCA had suspended the flying licence of Kathpalia for three years.

On Sunday, Kathpalia, who is also an AI board member, was grounded by the airline after he tested alcohol positive twice during as many breath analyser tests performed on him before he was to operate Air India's New Delhi-London flight.

The suspension of Kathpalia's flying licence is effective from the date on which he was tested BA (breath analyser) positive, the order stated.

Rule 24 of the Aircraft Rules prohibits crew members from partaking any alcoholic drink 12 hours prior to the commencement of a flight, and it is mandatory for him/her to undergo an alcohol test both before and after operating a flight.

The prescribed punishment for such offences under the DGCA rules is suspension of flying licence for three months in case of first breach.

For violating the norms for a second time, the licence is suspended for three years and for a third time, the licence is permanently cancelled.

This is the second time Kathpalia was taken off flying duties as in February 2017 DGCA suspended his license for three months for skipping the BA test before a flight when he was working as an executive director for operations with the airline.