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VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) \u2014 An Air India pilot was arrested at Vancouver International Airport last week as he was preparing for a flight, with Canada’s transportation agency warning the airline that it faced loss of its flight authorizations if it did not comply with rules about alcohol consumption.<\/p>\n
Transport Canada said in a statement Friday that the incident took place on Dec. 23, and it would engage with Air India and Indian aviation authorities to ensure \u201cappropriate followup actions\u201d were taken.<\/p>\n
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police said the arrest occurred after a \u201creport of concern\u201d involving an airline crew member.<\/p>\n
Police said an investigation is ongoing and no further information would be released.<\/p>\n
A spokeswoman for the airport said the pilot had been preparing for Air India\u2019s scheduled daily flight from Vancouver to Delhi, which was delayed for several hours but later departed safely.<\/p>\n
Flight tracking website FlightRadar24 shows that the Dec. 23 Air India flight from Vancouver to Delhi via Vienna was scheduled to depart at 3 p.m. but did not leave YVR until 10:02 p.m.<\/p>\n
Air India did not immediately respond to requests for comment.<\/p>\n
Transport Canada said in its statement that the Directorate General of Civil Aviation of India had primary responsibility for regulatory oversight of Air India.<\/p>\n
The statement said Canadian aviation regulations prohibited pilots or any other crew members from acting within 12 hours of drinking alcohol or while under its influence.<\/p>\n
It said airlines could not assign crew who were unfit for duty.<\/p>\n
\u201cNon-compliance with these regulations may result in the suspension or cancellation of a Canadian Aviation Document under the Aeronautics Act,\u201d it said.<\/p>\n
Airlines could also face judicial and other penalties, the statement said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n