Canada has formally asked Air India to probe incident of a pilot reporting for duty under the influence of alcohol, signaling heightened safety concerns and regulatory scrutiny in international aviation. Transport Canada, the country’s civil aviation regulator, described the matter as serious in a letter to the Indian carrier, underscoring potential breaches of Canadian aviation laws.
The incident occurred on December 23, 2025, at Vancouver International Airport, ahead of Flight AI186 bound for Delhi with an intermediate stop in Vienna. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) alerted authorities after airport staff raised concerns about the pilot’s condition, prompting officials to administer two breathalyzer tests, both of which the captain failed, confirming he was unfit for duty.
Transport Canada said the episode violated key sections of the Canadian Aviation Regulations (CARs) and the conditions of Air India’s Foreign Air Operator Certificate, and asked the airline to conduct a thorough investigation under its Safety Management System and report back by January 26, 2026.
Air India confirmed in a statement that the flight was delayed after the cockpit crew member was offloaded and replaced by a standby pilot. The airline said it regrets the inconvenience caused to passengers and is cooperating with Canadian authorities, affirming a zero-tolerance policy for violations of safety rules.
Aviation safety experts have pointed to recent concerns over operational compliance in parts of the airline industry, including issues reported in business class meal services and in-flight procedures, highlighting the ongoing focus on passenger experience and safety standards across carriers. For example, recent reports discussed quality issues in Air India’s business class meals and service, drawing attention to broader customer experience matters.
Transport Canada’s order to investigate comes amid broader monitoring by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) in India, which has also flagged safety irregularities on certain Air India flights, signaling a concerted focus on operational discipline.
As the probe unfolds, aviation authorities and passengers alike will be watching closely to ensure that international safety norms are upheld and that corrective measures effectively prevent such incidents from recurring.
