Pilot has licence revoked after failing breath tests before London-bound flight
An Air India pilot has been suspended after failing two breathalyser tests ahead of a flight from New Delhi to London on Sunday.
The pilot has been named as Arvind Kathpalia, who is director of operations at the airline, with responsibility for safety and training.
Authorities in India immediately suspended him and say his licence will be revoked for three years.
Mr Kathpalia told the Reuters news agency he was going to contest the decision, saying: ‘Only a bloody stark-raving alcoholic is bloody drunk at 1.30 in the afternoon."
According to reports, he was suspended last year for three months for allegedly refusing to take a breathalyser test.
Lisa
Lisa joined Travel Weekly nearly 25 years ago as technology reporter and then sailed around the world for a couple of years as cruise correspondent, before becoming deputy editor. Now freelance, Lisa writes for various print and web publications, edits Corporate Traveller’s client magazine, Gateway, and works on the acclaimed Remembering Wildlife series of photography books, which raise awareness of nature’s most at-risk species and helps to fund their protection.
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