A pilot-in-command of Fly Dubai scheduled to fly the Kathmandu-Dubai flight on Sunday morning was denied permission after he tested positive for alcohol. The flight FZ 8018, 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.

“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). “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,” said Chettri. According to Chettri, another flight FZ575 scheduled to land at the TIA at 7:20pm will carry the passengers and the crew members to Dubai.

As per rules, if pilots are found positive for alcohol then they will not be allowed to fly the plane and the airline should make alternate arrangements.