Probe ordered into drunk pilot case

New Delhi: The recent case of an Air India pilot reportedly getting so drunk that he urinated on his seat while flying as a passenger on the airline’s New York-Delhi nonstop flight has regulatory agencies in a bind.
While there is strong punishment for a pilot caught reporting for duty in a high state, a drunk passenger is - at best - a nuisance against whom no action can be taken. The incident happened in this premium flight’s business class and is reported to have left co-passengers aghast.
As a result, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has asked AI if the pilot was flying as a passenger or as staff on duty. "The airline has been asked to conduct an inquiry and send us a report. If the person was on duty, then action can be taken like suspending him or sending him for counselling. Otherwise, there’s nothing we can do," said a senior official.
This year, over 20 pilots have been caught drunk when reporting for flying. The airline is also in a bind.
An AI spokesperson said cabin crew have to report any incident that takes place on a flight. "In this case, no such report has been filed on the basis of which we can act. The person accused of this act was an Indian Airlines (that has been merged with AI) pilot who was on leave and flying as a passenger.
25/09/08 Saurabh Sinha/Times of India

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Categories: Air India - International Sep 2008, Foreign Sep 2008, NACIL Sep 2008