
An Air India pilot was detained at Vancouver airport on December 23, 2025, after Canadian authorities raised concerns about his fitness for duty, reportedly due to the smell of alcohol. A duty-free staff member alerted authorities after observing the pilot or smelling alcohol during a purchase. The pilot failed a breath analyser test and was subsequently offloaded. Air India arranged a replacement pilot, causing a delay of approximately two hours for the Vancouver-Delhi flight. The airline is cooperating with authorities, and the pilot has been taken off flying duties pending an investigation.
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