Air India has suspended a pilot for failing breath analyser test at the Zurich airport earlier this month before he was to operate a flight to the national capital and the airline is taking steps to strictly ensure regulatory compliance and curb violations, according to officials.
The incident that happened on September 6 came days after Air India terminated the services of the pilot-in-command of a Phuket-Delhi flight who had tested positive for drug use. Regarding the incident, a Swiss Federal Office of Civil Aviation (FOCA) spokesperson on Friday (September 25, 2026) said that necessary measures were taken in accordance with applicable national and international regulations. On September 4, Air India terminated the services of the pilot-in-command of Phuket-Delhi flight who had tested positive for drug use. The move came hours after the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) in its preliminary report into the Phuket flight incident that happened on August 4 said the drug use by the pilot was a serious concern and asked regulator DGCA to take appropriate action. In the preliminary report, AAIB said the plane carrying 145 people suffered near-simultaneous loss of all three hydraulic systems while cruising at 36,000 feet, triggering an autopilot disconnect, a brief stall warning and an altitude upset that injured 24 people.
The officials said in the Zurich incident, the pilot was immediately removed from operating duties upon receipt of a preliminary breath analyser test report from local authorities and referred for further medical evaluation.
The pilot was subsequently repatriated to India as a passenger and remains under suspension pending the final medical examination report and completion of the investigation.
Appropriate disciplinary action will be taken based on the findings, the officials said.
