Captain Saurabh Kumar was scheduled to command Air India flight AI186, a Boeing 777 service routing Vancouver to Delhi via a stop in Vienna. A duty-free staff member alerted police after noticing alcohol on his breath while he purchased items.Royal Canadian Mounted Police conducted tests at Vancouver International Airport, confirming he was unfit to fly. Kumar was immediately offloaded.
Transport Canada labeled the episode a "serious" violation of Canadian Aviation Regulations 602.02 and 602.03, plus terms of Air India's Foreign Air Operator Certificate. The regulator warned of potential enforcement by police and civil aviation officials. Air India replaced the captain, delaying departure by hours. Passengers received apologies for the disruption.
The airline suspended Kumar from duties pending inquiry. A spokesperson stressed zero tolerance for rule breaches, promising strict action if violations are proven. Safety remains paramount, they added.
Sources say the tip-off came from duty-free CCTV and staff observations. Kumar had planned to fly only to Vienna, where fresh crew would take over for Delhi—potentially bypassing routine checks abroad.
India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation was notified. This case follows recent scrutiny of Air India operations, including separate pilot notices over technical issues.
Aviation experts note strict no-alcohol rules—typically 12 hours bottle-to-throttle—and urge self-reporting if impaired to protect licenses. The probe underscores global vigilance on crew impairment amid rising long-haul demands.
