INTOXICATED COMMANDER: Air India Boeing 777 delayed for over seven hours in Vancouver due to alcohol abuse by the Pilot-in-Command
Air India Captn Saurabh Kumar, who was rostered to operate Air India flight number AI186, a Boeing 777-300ER, scheduled to depart Vancouver (YVR) by 3 pm, to Vienna (VIE) and Delhi (DEL), was reportedly delayed for over seven (7) hours when the Captain was ascertained to have past the limit for alcohol ingestion while on duty.
In cognisance of the fact of alcohol abuse, Transport Canada’s Civil Aviation {TCCA} Directorate, which is the civil aviation regulatory authority of Canada, in whose country the infraction occurred, duly issued a powerful directive that impinged on safety, to the management of Air India, over a drunk pilot in the cockpit, a few minutes before takeoff.
In the directive transmitted to the management of Air India and copied the state of India’s Civil Aviation Authority, Canada’s transport regulator requested Air India to investigate incident of a pilot found to be under the influence of alcohol, and was to function as the Pilot-in Command, PIC, of a flight from Vancouver, Canada, to Delhi, India, just two days to the Christmas in 2025.
The Canadian aviation authority disclosed that on the fateful day, a few minutes before takeoff, police at Vancouver International Airport administered two breathalyser tests on the pilot slated to man the cockpit, who had been found unfit for duty twice before.
Transport Canada, the Canadian civil aviation authority, in its query to Air India, described the incident as a “serious matter, an indication that every material particular about the investigation and sanction would likely be pursued to ensure fairness and justice are served.
However, in a statement by Transport Canada, it assured that it would engage with Air India and India’s aviation regulatory authority to ensure “appropriate follow-up actions” are taken.
In a strong letter to Air India from Transport Canada, signed by a top official named Ajit Oommen, Air India was instructed to share its findings and details of the steps taken to prevent future reoccurrences with the Canadian aviation regulatory authority.
The deadline for summary disposal of the matter is Monday, 26th of January 2026.
Air India in a statement said the flight from Vancouver to Delhi on Tuesday, 23rd December 2025, experienced a last-minute delay (due to the incident) adding that an alternate pilot was brought in to operate the flight.
It is hoped that travelers will take note of the cause of delay, which would not be announced raw, unedited, but it’s often more convenient to announce to exasperated passengers, especially those already seated in the cabin, what is convenient and good to hear excuses. A terse statement like, the delay was due to an operational or safety issue.
But, whichever reason the airline announced to passengers for the delay, one could not in good conscience claim the airline lied.
However, Air India, in its media statement said the Canadian authorities raised concerns about the pilot’s fitness for duty but did not provide details.
“The pilot has been taken off flying duties during the process of enquiry. Air India maintains a zero-tolerance policy towards any violation of applicable rules and regulations,” the airline said.
“Pending the outcome of the investigation, any confirmed violation will attract strict disciplinary action in line with company policy,” Air India said.
In a statement, Air India said, “The pilot had been taken off flying duties during the process of enquiry. Air India maintains a zero-tolerance policy towards any violation of applicable rules and regulations,” Air India said.
Recall that the regulation in the global aviation standard stipulates that anyone with a task to perform in the cabin should not be under the influence of any substance or alcohol. And if anyone expected to operate in the cockpit or passengers’ cabin has drunk alcohol, such person or persons shall not resume work until a minimum of 12 hours must have elapsed
How Capt Saurabh Kumar Attracted The Attention of A Canny Shop Waiter
First was the uniform Capt Saurabh Kumar adorned. Another factor that got a canny duty-free shop attendant interested in the pilot was probably the time spent at the duty-free shop where the captain was briefly having a good time to unnerve before the scheduled flight.
A Vancouver-based aviation blogger reported that an employee at the airport’s duty-free shop noticed the smell of alcohol oozing from the breathe of the Air India pilot.
It was the staff of one of the duty-free shops that brought his observation to the notice of the airport police.
While the police did not merely heard, and claim the aviation regulator is the exclusive air police, rather, they took action.
Capt Saurabh Kumar was accosted, and subsequently, two breathalyser tests were performed on the pilot, which confirmed that he had a blood alcohol level above the legal limit.
The lesson is, when you see something that is untoward, or that borders on air transport safety, whether within the airport vicinity or outside, call the attention of other individuals or corporate organisations likely to know how to appraise such information and promptly transmit same to the appropriate aviation agencies for necessary action.
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