Air India has back-pedalled on an announcement it made in appointing former director of operations Arvind Kathpalia to a new position after a backlash.
The airline announced Kathpalia as regional director (Northern Region) but within hours put the appointment on hold after opposition from a pilots’ union.
Kathpalia, a licensed pilot, failed a pre-flight alcohol test last year and was eventually suspended.
"Capt. Arvind Kathpalia will take over the charge of the post of Regional Director (Northern Region) with effect from May 1, 2019", consequent to the retirement of incumbent Pankaj Kumar, Air India said this week, but were forced to put it on hold just a day later.
The order to put the appointment on hold reportedly came from civil aviation minister Suresh Prabhu.
The Indian Commercial Pilots Association ‘strongly’ condemned the appointment.
"Top officials are bending backwards to elevate a tainted official. He’s been made in-charge of NR (Northern Region) where he will be able to intimidate people who had given statements in the police enquiry," the union said.
It says it would be ethically wrong for Kathpalia to preside over disciplinary action against other pilots in a similar position, which is part of the regional director role.
Additionally, as he has a charge sheet pending, he cannot take disciplinary action against other employees, the union said.
It was also widely criticised online by the general public.
Last year Kathpalia tested positive for alcohol in two breath tests before he was due to fly a plane to London.
His license was suspended for three years and the aviation ministry removed him from the position of director of operations.
However, just days later he was quietly given an executive director position.
A year previously his license had been suspended for three months after he knowingly skipped a pre-flight breath test.
