NEW DELHI, Sept. 18 — Air India Express has suspended eight crew members for three months after they failed to complete a mandatory post-flight breathalyser declaration within the prescribed time following an international flight.

The incident involved Air India Express flight AX-192 operating from Dubai to Amritsar on August 2. The aircraft landed at Sri Guru Ram Das Ji International Airport at around 9:50 a.m.

Under applicable aviation regulations, crew members operating international flights for Indian airlines are required to complete a post-flight alcohol test within two hours of landing in India.

However, the eight-member crew completed the required procedure two hours and 35 minutes after landing, exceeding the prescribed deadline by 35 minutes. The group reportedly included four pilots and four cabin crew members.

According to reports citing sources, all eight crew members tested negative for alcohol. The disciplinary action was therefore related to failure to meet the mandatory testing deadline rather than a positive alcohol test.

Air India Express reported the matter to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and removed the crew members from duty before imposing the three-month suspension.

The action highlights the strict compliance requirements surrounding post-flight crew testing. Even when the test result is negative, failure to complete the procedure within the prescribed regulatory window can result in disciplinary action.

The incident comes amid increased scrutiny of psychoactive-substance testing across the Air India Group following a separate Air India flight incident. Air India has subsequently expanded psychoactive-substance screening for pilots across the group, including Air India Express.