An Indonesian budget airline has fired a pilot suspected of attempting to fly while intoxicated, prompting the resignation of two senior executives. Citilink, a subsidiary of national carrier Garuda Indonesia, announced on Friday that president director Albert Burhan and the production director would step down over the incident.
The pilot, identified as 32-year-old Tekad Purna, was removed from the cockpit before takeoff on Wednesday after passengers reported slurred announcements. CCTV footage showed him staggering through a security checkpoint, dropping belongings. The flight, an Airbus A320 carrying 154 passengers from Surabaya to Jakarta, was delayed by an hour while a replacement pilot was assigned.
Burhan stated that the pilot had committed a serious violation of standard operating procedures, endangering passengers. He apologised for the discomfort and accepted responsibility by resigning. The airline initially dismissed reports of drunkenness, citing negative drug and alcohol tests, but later reversed its position.
Indonesia's transport ministry has banned Purna from flying pending an investigation. If found guilty, his license will be revoked. The incident has raised safety concerns in the archipelago nation, where aviation is a key mode of transport across its 17,000 islands.
This is not the first such case for Citilink; in December last year, three crew members were arrested for allegedly consuming crystal methamphetamine at a hotel.
