Canada transport regulator has asked Air India to investigate an incident in which one of its pilots allegedly reported for duty under the influence of alcohol and failed two breathalyser tests at Vancouver International Airport, a source familiar with the matter said on Thursday.
According to the source, Canadian police conducted the breathalyser tests after the pilot was removed from the aircraft before a scheduled flight from Vancouver to Delhi on December 23. The matter was described as “serious” by Transport Canada in a letter sent to the airline, with enforcement action likely to follow.
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The source spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorised to speak publicly. Transport Canada did not respond to a request for comment outside regular working hours.
Air India confirmed the incident in a statement, saying the flight experienced a last-minute delay and was later operated by an alternate pilot. The airline said the pilot involved has been removed from flying duties while an internal investigation is underway.
Air India putting Canadian lives at risk @MarkJCarney – what was his actual blood alcohol level if a duty free staffer could smell it ?
How often do drunk Indian pilots fly planes out of U.S. & Canada ? – if it wasn’t for the Canadian duty free rep – that drunk Indian pilot… https://t.co/GmKhYj66PZ pic.twitter.com/pTMdGjutyz
— COIN (@Mel68475706) January 1, 2026
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“Air India maintains a zero-tolerance policy towards any violation of applicable rules and regulations,” the airline said. It added that any confirmed breach would result in strict disciplinary action in line with company policy.
Transport Canada has asked Air India to submit its findings and outline measures to prevent similar incidents in the future by January 26, the source said. The letter was signed by Transport Canada official Ajit Oommen.
The incident comes as India’s aviation sector faces heightened scrutiny following the June 12 crash of a Boeing Dreamliner that killed 260 people. Since then, India’s aviation regulator has flagged multiple safety lapses at Air India.
Earlier this week, India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation issued warning notices to four Air India pilots, citing “serious safety concerns” related to regulatory compliance and flight crew decision-making. The notices said the pilots accepted a Boeing 787 aircraft for operation last year despite being aware of repeated technical snags and system degradations.
Read More: Captain under scrutiny in Air India crash that killed 260
Air India is owned by the Tata Group in partnership with Singapore Airlines and was privatised in 2022 after decades of government ownership.