As if drunken driving is not enough of a peril to the lives of self and others, a senior Air India Commander attempted to take off with an Airbus A-320 loaded with passengers in the inebriated state on Tuesday. The commander dodged the Breathalyzer tests and sought the clearance from air traffic control.

When the ATC learnt of the misadventure of the senior commander they denied clearance of the flight for take off. The pilot was asked to get out of the cockpit and forced to take the BA tests. He failed to pass the tests twice and was found to be high. AI suspended the pilot for endangering the lives of passengers by attempting to fly the plane in a drunken state. The report was sent to Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). DGCA can now either suspend him or cancel his flying licence.

The flight was to operate in the extremely sensitive Delhi Jammu Srinnagar Jammu Delhi trip. He dodged the tests and sought clearance from the ATC to operate the flight. ATC which later learned of his antics from the flight operations denied clearance for take off.

Bhushan Said that a new machine sensor IV was introduced to perform the Breathalyser tests as there were flaws in the previous methods. “Drunken pilots would also pass the earlier tests if they held their breath as no alcohol would enter the analysers” he said.

AW Anil