Air India pilot held at Vancouver airport after failing breath test before Delhi-bound flight

In the statement, Air India expressed regret over the inconvenience to passengers and said it is extending full cooperation to local authorities

• Air India pilot detained at Vancouver airport after failing alcohol test
• Flight to Delhi delayed by two hours as replacement pilot was arranged
• Air India and DGCA probing incident, pilot taken off flying duties

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Getting into the festive spirit landed an Air India pilot into trouble at the Vancouver airport. The pilot was scheduled to operate a Vancouver-Delhi flight via Vienna on December 23, 2025.

According to a report by Times of India, a staffer at Vancouver duty free noticed the Boeing 777 pilot either sipping wine being offered during the holiday season or smelling of alcohol while purchasing a bottle. The staffer reported this to Canadian authorities, who subjected the pilot to a breath analyser test, which he failed, leading to his detention.

Acting quickly, the airline arranged a replacement, limiting the impact on passengers. The ultra-long-haul flight, operated by four pilots in two shifts, departed at around 5 pm local time -- roughly two hours behind schedule --and later flew to Vienna, from where a fresh crew took over the onward journey to Delhi.

“AI has taken a very stern view of this matter. The pilot was flown to Delhi a couple of days later and is being probed. The issue has been reported to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), which is also examining the same,” people in the know told Times of India.

“AI 186 from Vancouver to Delhi on Dec 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 reported quoted the airline’s statement.

In the statement, Air India expressed regret over the inconvenience to passengers and said it is extending full cooperation to local authorities. The pilot has been taken off flying duties during the process of enquiry, it said, adding that the airline maintains a zero-tolerance policy towards any violation of applicable rules and regulations. It reaffirmed that safety remains its top priority.

Sources cited in the report reveal contradicting details. While some have said the pilot had inadvertently sipped an alcoholic drink at the airport, others say he smelled of alcohol while buying the bottle.