OTTAWA – Canadian aviation authorities have officially requested a comprehensive investigation from Air India after a captain was found under the influence of alcohol just minutes before a scheduled flight from Vancouver. The incident involving Captain Saurabh Kumar occurred on December 23, 2025, and led to a major security intervention at Vancouver International Airport.
According to reports, Captain Kumar was scheduled to operate Flight AI186, bound for Delhi via Vienna. Concerns were first raised by a duty-free shop employee who noticed the pilot appeared inebriated while making a purchase. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) were immediately alerted and conducted two breathalyzer tests, both of which returned positive results, confirming the pilot was unfit for duty.
Transport Canada has labeled the incident a “serious violation” of the Canadian Aviation Regulations (CARs) and a breach of the conditions outlined in Air India’s Foreign Air Operator Certificate. In a formal communication, the Canadian regulator directed Air India to provide a detailed explanation of the incident and the corrective measures taken by January 26, 2026.
In India, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has also taken notice of the safety breach and issued a show-cause notice to the pilot. Air India has since offloaded the captain from flying duties and issued a statement emphasizing its “zero-tolerance policy” toward rule violations. The airline expressed regret for the inconvenience caused to passengers, noting that an alternate pilot was rostered to operate the flight following a significant delay.
