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Air India crew alcohol and safety protocol violations

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2026-09-26 03:40 UTC → 2026-09-28 10:21 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Air India and its subsidiary, Air India Express, have faced multiple regulatory and safety incidents involving crew members and substance protocols. In August, Air India Express suspended eight crew members—including four pilots and four cabin crew—for three months. The suspension followed a violation of mandatory post-flight alcohol testing protocols after a flight from Dubai to Amritsar, where the crew missed the required two-hour testing window by 35 minutes. Although all members tested negative for alcohol, the delay was deemed a regulatory lapse. In September, an Air India co-pilot was suspended after failing a sobriety test at Zurich airport prior to flight AI 151 to Delhi. Ground staff suspected alcohol consumption, and subsequent tests indicated blood alcohol levels above the permissible limit, causing the flight to miss its scheduled departure. The Swiss Federal Office of Civil Aviation (FOCA) referred the matter to India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). This incident followed a separate report in August regarding a pilot testing positive for marijuana after a flight from Phuket to Delhi. Regarding the Zurich incident, airport staff at the check-in counter noted the smell of alcohol on the crew member on September 6. Following a positive breathalyzer test, Air India cancelled the flight and sent the co-pilot back to India as a passenger. The airline stated it is awaiting a formal report from Swiss authorities before deciding on further disciplinary actions.

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