The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said Tuesday in a statement that nine pilots and 32 cabin crew members tested positive for breath alcohol during checks conducted between January 1 and April 30.
The DGCA stated that four pilots and ten cabin crew members of IndiGo, one pilot and five cabin crew members of GoFirst, one pilot and six cabin crew members of SpiceJet, one pilot of Air India Express, and four cabin crew members of AirAsia India failed the alcohol tests during.
According to the aviation regulator, one pilot and two cabin crew members of Vistara, one pilot of Alliance Air, and five cabin crew members of Air India failed the test.
All crew members were required to take pre-flight alcohol tests prior to the Covid-19 outbreak. However, due to the pandemic, the tests were halted. The tests were later resumed, but only for a small percentage of the crew members.
“During this period, nine pilots and 32 cabin crew were found BA positive. Out of these, two pilots and two cabin crew have been suspended for a period of three years for bring positive for the second time. The remaining 37 crew members were suspended for a period of three months for being tested BA positive for the first time”.
In addition to the action taken against the 41 crew members (nine pilots and 32 cabin crew members), the DGCA has also acted against seven crew members for “missing BA tests or not furnishing the declaration”.