Drunk before duty: Air India pilot detained ahead of Vancouver to Delhi flight

Vancouver (The Uttam Hindu): An Air India pilot was detained at Vancouver Airport in Canada for being intoxicated. Celebrating proved costly for an Air India pilot flying a Vancouver-Delhi (via Vienna) flight on December 23, 2025. The pilot was detained after an odor of alcohol was detected on his breath.

According to media reports, an employee at a Vancouver duty-free store saw the pilot drinking alcohol offered at the festival. It is claimed that he smelled alcohol on the pilot's breath while purchasing a bottle of liquor. The employee reported the pilot to Canadian authorities.

Air India pilot detained for drinking before flight; flight was to be from Vancouver to Delhi : Canadian authorities conducted a breathalyzer test on the pilot, which he failed. After this, he was taken into custody. Air India immediately arranged for a replacement pilot. This flight with four pilots or two teams departed with a delay of two hours. After the plane landed in Vienna, another crew team flew from there to Delhi.

According to media reports, people familiar with the matter said that Air India has taken a tough stand in the matter. They said, "The pilot was brought to Delhi a few days later and is being questioned. The matter has been reported to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), which is investigating."

Some sources say the pilot accidentally drank alcohol at the airport and was spotted by a duty-free shop employee, while others say he smelled of alcohol when he purchased the bottle.

However, it's still unclear what exactly happened. The employee reported the incident to Canadian authorities, who used CCTV footage to determine where the pilot in question was scheduled to fly. They were able to track him to an Air India plane.