NEW DELHI: An Air India pilot-in-command, Captain Saurabh Kumar, was offloaded from the cockpit of his flight at Vancouver International Airport after an onboard breathalyser test indicated a very high level of alcohol consumption, sources said. The flight, carrying 238 passengers, was scheduled to operate from Canada to Delhi via Vienna when the incident occurred. Both Air India and the aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), have initiated inquiries.
Flight AI 186, operated by a Boeing 777 aircraft, was delayed by nearly six hours on the evening of December 23 due to the incident. The aircraft eventually departed after an alternative pilot was arranged. The matter has come to light only now.
Captain Kumar, in his early forties, has over 15 years of experience with Air India.
A source familiar with the development told this newspaper, “The captain, who was in uniform, had gone to a duty-free shop inside Vancouver airport to purchase alcohol when the shop manager noticed that he appeared to be in an inebriated state. She immediately alerted aviation authorities at the airport. Meanwhile, he had joined his colleagues in the cockpit. As this was a long-haul flight, two sets of captains and two first officers were rostered.”
Another source said airport authorities boarded the aircraft while it was still at the bay and identified the pilot. “He was subjected to a breathalyser test and asked to blow into an alcometer. The blood alcohol concentration reading was 0.30 mg per 100 ml, which is considered very high. As per DGCA rules, there should be zero alcohol in a pilot’s blood, with a mandatory reading of 0.00,” the source said. By contrast, US regulations permit a very small amount of alcohol, up to 0.04 mg.
The pilot was immediately removed from the flight and taken to the terminal for further tests. “Flying a wide-body aircraft requires specialised skills and significant experience, which Captain Kumar clearly possessed,” another source said.
According to flight-tracking platform FlightAware, the aircraft, which was scheduled to depart at 3.50 pm local time, finally took off at 9.53 pm.
Confirming the incident without disclosing specific details, an Air India spokesperson said, “Flight AI186 from Vancouver to Delhi on December 23, 2025, experienced a last-minute delay after one of the cockpit crew members was offloaded prior to departure. Canadian authorities raised concerns regarding the pilot’s fitness for duty, following which the crew member was taken for further inquiry.”
“In accordance with safety protocols, an alternate pilot was rostered to operate the flight, resulting in the delay,” the spokesperson added.
“The pilot has been taken off flying duties during the enquiry process. Pending the outcome of the investigation, any confirmed violation will attract strict disciplinary action in line with company policy,” the statement said, adding that Air India is fully cooperating with local authorities.