Incidents are coming forward of ground staff and airline
crew reporting drunk for duty in the last few years. Many pilots were caught
being drunk abroad as well as in India before their flights were scheduled to
take off. Not only pilots but the airline crew members also have been involved
in the same.
Jyotiraditya Scindia, Minister of State for Civil Aviation
informed in Lok Sabha on Thursday that in the last 2.5 years, 150 cabin crew
members and 60 pilots have tested positive after the breathalyzer test.
She added further that 14 pilots and 54 crew members of
different airlines have failed the breathalyzer test in the last six months.
Out of these cases, the pilots and members that have tested
positive for alcohol consumption have been suspended for three months whereas 2
pilots and 2 crew members who tested positive for the second time were
straightaway suspended for the next 3 years.
Ajay Devgan starrer film, Runway 34 also raised the same
issue. In the movie, the pilot was accused of consuming alcohol before flying
the plane but later on, he was proved innocent. In the climax, it showed that
one of the crew members drank alcohol during the flying.
According to the rules laid by the Directorate General of
Civil Aviation, there should be a gap of 12 hours or more than that between the
consumption of alcohol and the take-off time of the flight.
If anyone fails to follow the rule then the accused will get
a suspension for 3 months for the first time, 3 years for the second time and
cancellation of license if it is repeated the third time.