Dubai-bound Fly Dubai flight delayed after pilot fails alcohol test

A Dubai-bound flight from Nepal was delayed by nearly 10 hours after the captain was found to be under the influence of alcohol, according to reports.

The Fly Dubai flight FZ 8018, which was scheduled to take off for Dubai International Airport with 153 passengers at 9:40 am on Sunday, was grounded after the captain failed the pre-flight alcohol test, The Kathmandu Post reported.

The flight was suspended until a new crew arrived and eventually left Kathmandu with the different crew.

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Crew members alerted airport officials that the pilot seemed impaired by alcohol less than an hour before the flight was scheduled to take off on Sunday morning, the reports said.

“We received a complaint from the airline’s crew about the strange activities of the flying crews. We conducted a preliminary alcohol test through a breathalyzer,” said Raj Kumar Chettri, general manager of Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA).

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“Medical tests of both the flying crews were conducted and flight captain N Hussain tested positive and he was immediately grounded,” he said, adding the civil aviation authority of Dubai and Fly Dubai was immediately informed about the issue.

“Legal action will be initiated against the drunk crew members as per the Dubai’s civil aviation law,” Chettri added. 

Pilots, if found positive for alcohol, will not be allowed to fly the plane and the airline should make alternate arrangements. 

(With inputs from agencies)