A pilot employed by Air India was detained at Vancouver International Airport on Christmas Eve, December 24, 2025, after allegedly failing a pre-flight alcohol test. The pilot was scheduled to operate a flight to Delhi.

According to regulations, all flight personnel must undergo a breathalyzer test before and after flights. These tests are a standard safety protocol implemented to ensure that crew members are not under the influence of alcohol while operating an aircraft.

While details surrounding the specific incident remain limited, it is understood that the pilot in question was taken off flying duty immediately following the positive test result. Further investigations are underway, and the incident has been reported to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).

Air India has a strict policy regarding alcohol consumption by its crew members. Aircraft rules prohibit crew members from consuming any alcoholic beverages 12 hours prior to the commencement of a flight. Furthermore, Air India has a zero-tolerance policy toward alcohol violations, and pilots can face immediate termination if found with over 0.02 grams of alcohol per 210 liters of breath in pre-flight tests. Previously, violations would typically lead to a three-month suspension; however, the airline will now terminate any pilot who fails a breath analyzer test with blood alcohol content (BAC) exceeding 0.02 grams per 210 liters of breath.

In response to the incident, Air India has reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining the highest standards of safety and regulatory compliance. The airline is cooperating fully with authorities in their investigation and has assured passengers that appropriate measures are being taken to prevent similar occurrences in the future.

This incident is not isolated. In February 2017, a woman pilot and another crew member of Air India were grounded for three months after failing a pre-flight alcohol test. In another incident in November 2018, an Air India pilot was grounded minutes before he was to fly from New Delhi to London after a mandatory pre-flight medical test showed he was intoxicated. In May 2025, Air India announced that pilots would face immediate termination if found with a BAC exceeding 0.02 grams per 210 liters of breath in pre-flight tests.