by Donald Wood
Last updated: 4:27 PM ET, Wed September 19, 2018
A Singapore Airlines (SIA) pilot was suspended over the weekend after he failed a random drug and alcohol test due to being over the suitable blood alcohol limit.
According to Channel News Asia, SIA Flight SQ247 was scheduled to depart from Melbourne at 7 a.m. local time Saturday and arrive in Wellington at 12:20 p.m., but the lack of a pilot forced the airline to cancel the flight.
The return flight was also canceled. Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) revealed the pilot was suspended from all operations until an investigation was completed.
"Anyone who returns a positive result on an initial drug or alcohol test must not perform safety-sensitive aviation activities until the results of a confirmatory test have been provided," a CASA spokesperson told Channel News Asia. "They are not able to return to duty until they have been medically assessed, undergone rehabilitation if appropriate and given a medical clearance."
The CASA conducted 12,130 drug and alcohol tests on airline personnel over the last year, with only eight coming back positive; three for alcohol and five for drugs.
An SIA spokesperson apologized for the flight cancellations caused by the pilot's failed test.
"We sincerely apologize to those affected by the cancellation of these flights. However, the safety of our customers and crew is our highest priority," SIA said in a statement. "We are currently working with those customers whose travel has been inconvenienced to find suitable alternate travel arrangements as soon as possible."
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