Demonstrating an uncompromising stance on aviation safety protocols and procedural compliance, Air India Express has suspended eight crew members for a period of three months following an operational lapse after an international flight. The disciplinary action stems from an incident that occurred on August 2, 2026, involving a scheduled service from Dubai to Amritsar. Upon landing at Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport, the operating crew failed to complete the mandatory post-flight breathalyzer test within the strictly stipulated regulatory timeframe, prompting internal investigations and regulatory reporting.

Procedural Lapses and 35-Minute Window Violation After Landing

Civil aviation safety standards mandated by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) require all operating flight and cabin crew members arriving on international sectors to undergo mandatory alcohol screening and submit their formal post-flight declarations within exactly two hours of touching down. In this instance, the eight-member flight team violated the protocol by delaying their submission by 35 minutes, registering their breathalyzer procedure two hours and 35 minutes post-landing. Under standard operational protocols, any deviation beyond the permissible 120-minute window is categorized as an evasion of safety rules, triggering immediate regulatory inquiries regardless of external circumstances.

Psychoactive Substance Testing Negative, Yet Strict Three-Month Suspension Enforced

Following the procedural delay, airline authorities enforced emergency compliance protocols, ordering all eight crew members to undergo comprehensive medical screenings for psychoactive substances and alcohol consumption. While medical laboratory evaluations confirmed that all test results returned completely negative—establishing that none of the crew members had consumed alcohol or prohibited substances—management refused to overlook the procedural delay. Stressing that flight safety norms tolerate zero leniency toward procedural indiscipline, Air India Express submitted a comprehensive incident report to the DGCA and placed all eight operating crew members under an immediate three-month suspension.