Air India 777 Captain Pulled for Alcohol, Vancouver Flight Leaves 7 Hours Late
On December 23, 2025, an Air India Boeing 777-300ER operating AI186 (Vancouver–Vienna–Delhi) was delayed after one of the cockpit crew members was flagged as potentially impaired before departure.
The report says a duty-free employee noticed an odor of alcohol on the pilot’s breath and alerted airport authorities. Police then administered two breathalyzer tests, both reportedly indicating the pilot was over the allowable limit to operate.
The delay and the operational ripple
The flight was scheduled to depart around 3:00 pm but ultimately left a little after 10:00 pm, roughly seven hours late, after Air India arranged a replacement pilot.
A delay of that length raises practical questions about how the airline recovered the operation, including whether:
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the remaining crew stayed within duty-time limits, or
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the airline had to swap additional crew members to keep the flight legal.
Regulatory fallout
Canadian authorities have indicated the situation may involve violations of Canadian aviation rules related to crew fitness for duty, and that enforcement action could follow. They also formally requested an explanation from both Air India and the relevant Indian aviation authorities.
Air India’s response
Air India acknowledged that a cockpit crew member was removed prior to departure after authorities raised concerns about fitness for duty. The airline said it rostered an alternate pilot, apologized for the disruption, and stated the pilot has been taken off flying duties during the inquiry. Air India also reiterated a zero-tolerance stance and said disciplinary action would follow if wrongdoing is confirmed.
Why this incident stands out
Any alcohol-related impairment allegation in a cockpit is serious on its own—but what makes this one particularly unsettling is that it was reportedly initiated by a third party noticing a smell, not by internal reporting. If accurate, it naturally prompts uncomfortable questions about whether others who interacted with the pilot earlier (hotel, transport, airport processes) noticed signs and did nothing.
Bottom Line
A pilot on Air India’s AI186 was reportedly removed in Vancouver after two positive breath tests, leading to a seven-hour delay while the airline found a replacement. The case is now squarely in regulators’ hands, with expectations for clear answers on how it happened and what safeguards will change to prevent a repeat.
