Nader Hussain, 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 Captain Hussain failed the pre-flight alcohol test.

“Immediately after we received a complaint from the airline’s crew about the strange behavior of the flying crews, we conducted a preliminary alcohol test through a breathalyzer and found the captain was under the influence of alcohol,” said Raj Kumar Chettri, general manager of Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA).

“Medical tests of both the flying crews were conducted and flight captain Hussain tested positive. The captain was then grounded,” he said. The civil aviation authority of Dubai and Fly Dubai was immediately informed about the issue. “As per the law, the Dubai’s civil aviation will take legal action against the drunken crew member,” said Chettri.

According to TIA, another Fly Dubai’s flight at 4:40 pm flew the crew to Dubai as “deadhead” passengers.  Deadhead is the term for a crew member who is on duty, but flying as a passenger, heading home without having paid for a ticket. (PR)