Capt Kathpalia removed as AI Director Ops, to face probe

Air India's Director for Operations Capt Arvind Kathpalia was on Tuesday removed from his post by the government while the national carrier announced a probe against him, a day after aviation regulator DGCA suspended his flying licence for three years for failure to clear a pre-flight alcohol test.

Capt Amitabh Singh, currently Executive Director for Training, has been given additional charge of the post, a Civil Aviation Ministry order stated, while noting that the action was taken against Kathpalia due to "failure to course correct" even after earlier suspension of flying licence for three months in February 2017 for skipping breath analyser test.

He was grounded by the airline Sunday after he tested positive for alcohol in two breath analyser (BA) tests before he was to operate Air India's New Delhi-London flight.

Air India, in a statement on Tuesday, announced a detailed probe by the chief vigilance officer into the November 11 incident which led to the action against Kathpalia, who is also an AI board member.

The ministry order said: "Taking (in consideration) serious nature of the transgression and failure to course correct even after earlier suspension of flying licence for three months, the minister of civil aviation has accorded approval for relieving Capt Arvind Kathpalia from the charge of director of operations of Air India Ltd with immediate effect."