Air India Express has suspended eight crew members for three months after they failed to complete the mandatory post-flight breathalyser declaration within the prescribed two-hour window following an international flight. The action relates to the airline’s Dubai–Amritsar flight on August 2, which landed at Sri Guru Ram Das Jee International Airport in Amritsar.
The crew submitted the required declaration 2 hours and 35 minutes after landing, exceeding the deadline by 35 minutes. The airline reported the matter to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and removed the eight crew members from duty before imposing the three-month suspension. Reports said the group included four pilots and four cabin crew members, while all eight subsequently tested negative for alcohol.
The disciplinary action comes amid increased attention on psychoactive-substance testing and crew safety procedures in Indian aviation following the recent Air India Phuket–Delhi flight incident. Air India has also expanded psychoactive-substance screening for pilots across the Air India group.
