A Singapore Airlines pilot failed a random blood alcohol test in Melbourne resulting in the cancellation of a flight.
A Singapore Airlines flight from Melbourne to Wellington had to be cancelled at the last minute on Saturday after the pilot failed a random alcohol test.
A passenger claimed that staff on board flight SQ247 lied about the condition of the pilot, saying he was simply “under the weather”.
Muteki, who did not want his surname revealed, told an Australian news agency: “My impression was that they were sick. Then 15 minutes later they said it was the captain. All the communication was that the pilot was ‘sick’ or ‘not in the condition to fly’. Later, when I spoke to airline staff, they told me the pilot had eaten something bad.
“That was a clear lie.”
@SingaporeAir care to try to explain why your captain (ie most experienced person on the aircraft) of SQ247 waits until boarding time to decide they’re too ill/drunk to fly? Will miss the 1st #allblacks #rugby match I bought tickets for and flew to WLG from NRT to see? #sad
— Muteki iikun (@M_iikun) 15 September 2018
Muteki, who had travelled all the way from Japan to watch the All Blacks game, vented his frustration on Twitter for missing the match.
The return flight from Wellington to Singapore via Melbourne was also cancelled as a result.
The pilot has been suspended from all duties while an investigation is undertaken.
“We will work closely with the Australian and Singaporean authorities to ensure they are supplied the information they require,” Singapore Airlines’ spokesman Karl Schubert said.
“We sincerely apologise to those affected by the cancellation of these flights. However the safety of our customers and crew is our highest priority.”
The Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority began random drug and alcohol testing of pilots in 2008.
CASA imposes a 0.02 per cent maximum blood alcohol limit for pilots and zero tolerance for cannabis, cocaine, opioids and amphetamines.
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