Overview
- A Vancouver duty-free employee reported concerns after allegedly seeing the pilot sip wine or smelling alcohol while he shopped.
- Canadian authorities administered a breathalyser that the pilot reportedly failed, leading to his detention for questioning.
- The cockpit crew member was offloaded from flight AI186 to Delhi via Vienna and a replacement pilot was arranged.
- The Boeing 777 departed roughly two hours late from Vancouver and continued with a fresh crew from Vienna for the onward leg.
- Air India has taken the pilot off flying duties and informed India’s DGCA, which is examining the incident.