The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has cleared the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) pilot from intoxication charges.
The said pilot was earlier stopped from operating a flight from Islamabad to Birmingham on suspected intoxication. Flight PK-791 was scheduled to take-off for Birmingham when a random alcohol check rendered him as ‘not in senses’.
An alternative pilot was arranged to operate the flight that took off at 2:15 pm instead of 11:50 am.
ALSO READ
PIA Flight Suspended Over Suspicion of a Drunk Pilot
Nevertheless, the CAA reported on Monday that several medical tests of the pilot have been conducted. The tests prove that the pilot was not under the influence of any psychoactive substance.
The lab test report states that the breathalyzer had raised a ‘false alarm.’ It further said that the report of breathalyzer is not enough to take action. The routine procedure requires detailed examination following such an alarm.
The CAA stated in its report that it regrets the ‘‘psychological trauma, inconvenience, and annoyance’ caused to the pilot. However, the authority maintained that it had to follow the code for flight safety.
