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Zoom Testing has over 20 years of experience providing drug and alcohol testing products and guidance in the UK. This archived article preserves the original reporting of an Air India pilot’s suspension following pre-flight breathalyser tests in November 2018.
Originally published: 14 November 2018 | Reviewed: 25 October 2026 | By: Anthony Cunningham
From the Zoom Testing Archive: Originally published on 14 November 2018, this article records news and circumstances being reported at that time. Aviation regulations, alcohol testing procedures and the circumstances of the individuals involved may have changed since publication. For current drug testing information and guidance, please see our latest articles.
In a rather sad indictment on Air India, 56-year-old Captain Arvind Kathpalia was again suspended after failing a breath alcohol test. On Sunday 11 November 2018, Captain Kathpalia was grounded after failing to pass two mandatory breathalyser tests. According to aviation authorities, this was not the first time Captain Kathpalia had lost his pilot’s licence privileges. He had been suspended for three months in 2017 after refusing to take a breathalyser test before commanding a New Delhi-Bengaluru flight.
On Sunday, Captain Kathpalia was scheduled to command the 2:45pm departure of the Delhi-London Boeing 787 Dreamliner flight when Delhi’s Air India Medical Service Department took his first breathalyser reading. Because this test showed a positive result for alcohol, Captain Kathpalia was given a second test following the mandatory 15 to 20-minute wait. The second test also showed a positive result for alcohol.
The Delhi-London flight eventually departed at 4pm with a new commander at the controls.
In August 2018, the Indian parliament heard that, between the years 2015 and 2017, 132 pilots in India failed to pass mandatory pre-flight breathalyser tests. Suresh Prabhu, Minister for Civil Aviation at the time, said that while most were first-time offenders and received three-month suspensions, 15 of these were repeat offenders and were subsequently suspended for three years.
Under the aviation rules reported at the time, pilots were prohibited from consuming alcohol within 12 hours before flying, and mandatory pre-flight breathalyser tests were administered.
In a statement issued by aviation watchdog DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation), it was announced that Captain Kathpalia’s licence privileges had been suspended from 11 November 2018 for a three-year period, as per the aviation regulations in force at the time.
Captain Kathpalia, who was also the Director of Operations at the state-owned Air India at the time, stated that he would be challenging the test results and believed he was a victim of internal politics within Air India.
When speaking with Reuters, Captain Kathpalia disputed the suggestion that he had been drinking at 1:30pm. Whilst saying he planned on contesting the breathalyser results, he also acknowledged the difficulty of challenging them because, as he put it, “it’s a rule and is meant to be followed”.
According to Captain Kathpalia, the merger between Air India and Indian Airlines in 2007 had created a lot of animosity, with “everyone fighting with everyone”.
About the Author
Anthony Cunningham, BA (Hons), MA, is a UK-based drug testing expert and editor with over 20 years’ experience running Zoom Testing, a trusted source for accurate drug testing kits and testing guidance. He creates clear, evidence-based articles using UK legislation, workplace compliance standards, and harm reduction best practices. Where possible, content is reviewed by testing specialists and compliance professionals to enhance accuracy and reliability, helping readers make informed testing decisions.
