Air India pilot arrested before takeoff at Vancouver airport

An Air Indian pilot has been stripped of his duties after Canadian authorities raised concerns over whether he was fit to fly.

Mounties on Friday confirmed that they arrested a commercial airline pilot at Vancouver International Airport, following a media report that the pilot was found to be under the influence of alcohol before takeoff.

The Richmond RCMP says in a brief statement that officers arrested the pilot on Dec. 23 after investigating a “concern involving a crew member preparing to report for duty.”

The flight was delayed for several hours before departing safely later that day, the statement said.

A report from the Reuters news agency says Canada’s transportation regulator has asked Air India to investigate the incident.

The report cited an unnamed source familiar with the matter, who said police conducted two breathalyzer tests that showed the pilot was unfit for duty.

A spokesperson for Air India tells CTV News that Flight AI186 from Vancouver to Delhi experienced “a last-minute delay after one of the cockpit crew members was offloaded prior to departure.”

The airline said in a statement that authorities on the ground “raised concerns regarding the pilot’s fitness for duty, following which the crew member was taken for further inquiry.”

An alternative pilot was found to operate the flight in accordance with the company’s safety protocols.

“Air India regrets the inconvenience caused to its passengers and is fully co-operating with the local authorities,” the airline spokesperson said in a statement.

“Air India maintains a zero-tolerance policy towards any violation of applicable rules and regulations.”

The arrested pilot has been “taken off flying duties” while the inquiry is underway, the spokesperson said.

Transport Canada says it is engaging with Air India and the Indian government’s civil aviation authority “to ensure appropriate follow-up actions are taken” with regards to the pilot.

Transport Canada spokesperson Flavio Nienow says India retains primary responsibility for regulatory oversight of Air India, as the operator’s home country.

The airline says safety remains its highest priority, and any violation of its company policy will attract “strict disciplinary action” at the conclusion of its investigation.

The RCMP says its own investigation is ongoing and no further information will be released to the public.

Canada’s civilian aviation regulations prohibit airline pilots and crewmembers from flying while under the influence or consuming alcohol within 12 hours before a flight.

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With files from CTV News Vancouver’s Isabella Zavarise