Twenty-three cabin crew members of Indian carriers were found positive for alcohol in pre-flight breath analyser tests this year and action has been taken against them, the Lok Sabha was informed today.
Between January 1 and July 31 this year, 22 of the cabin crew members were suspended from duty for three months as they were caught for the first time, while one for five years for repeating the offence, Minister of State for Civil Aviation K C Venugopal said.
In reply to an another question, he said that various airlines in the country have engaged 262 foreign pilots.
Jet Airways has 86 foreign pilots, followed by IndiGo with 47, SpiceJet 36 and national carrier Air India has 15, he said, adding Air India's subsidiary Alliance Air has 10, while cargo carrier BlueDart five and non scheduled and other operators have 63, Venugopal said.
Total number of foreign pilots employed with various airlines has come down from 340 last year to 262, he said.
The Minister said Air India, Jet Airways, IndiGo, SpiceJet have asked for extension of employment of foreign pilots.
The government has permitted them time till December 31, 2016.
