New Delhi: Private carrier Jet Airways has asked its two pilots to quit after they were found drunk before operating the flight. The two pilots who have been asked to resign are a captain and a co-pilot of a Boeing 737, claimed reports.
The two pilots reportedly failed the pre-flight breath analyser (BA) test after which the airline suspended their licences for three months, following the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) norms. The two pilots had also failed BA tests before 2009. Sources informed Times of India that failing BA tests before 2009 are not counted while calculating the punishment but in the interest of safety, the private carrier took a serious view and asked the duo to resign immediately.
Talking to the daily, over the issue, a Jet Airways spokesperson said,”Safety of guests is of paramount importance at Jet Airways and the company will take appropriate action against employees who abuse its code of conduct and prescribed regulations. As these are confidential personnel related matters the company cannot comment further.”
As per aviation regulator DGCA, 224 pilots and crew failed the test in 2016, whereas in the year 2015, 202 pilots and crew failed the test. Any crew member who tests positive in the pre-flight medical check or refuses to take a breath analyzer test is required to be taken off flying duty for at least four weeks and the airline is required to initiate disciplinary proceedings.
Aircraft rules prohibit crew members from taking any alcohol 12 hours prior to a flight. It is mandatory for the employee to undergo an alcohol test both before and after operating a flight.
