Senior Air India pilot Captain Arvind Kathpalia, who was appointed the airlines' regional director of the northern region on Tuesday, has been suspended until further notice. The Air India said in a statement that "Arvind Kathpalia's appointment as regional director is kept in abeyance until further orders".

Captain Arvind Kathpalia was sacked as the Director of Operations in November 2018 for failing multiple pre-flight breath analyzer tests. On Tuesday, however, Air India brought him back to step into the roles of Pankaj Kumar who retired today as the Regional Director (Northern Region).

Air India, in a statement, has said, "Consequent to the retirement of Mr Pankaj Kumar, Regional Director (Northern Region) after the close of working hours of April 30, 2019, Capt. Arvind Kathpalia will take over the change of the post of Regional Director (Northern Region) with effect from May 1, 2019."

The reports were condemned by union of Air India pilots who expressed apprehensions that "Capt Arvind Kathpalia will be able to intimidate people who have given statements in the police enquiry".

The Indian Commercial Pilots Association (ICPA) said, "Top officials are bending backwards to elevate a tainted official. He's been made in-charge of NR where he will be able to intimidate people who have given statements in the police enquiry."

"A person who has broken the law and chargesheet pending against him cannot take disciplinary action against other employees. ICPA strongly condemns this and will withdraw support. We need justice. It's yet again proven people with strong political connections can get away with any crime."

Arvind Kathpalia was removed in November 2018 after he failed two alcohol tests before he was to fly a London-bound flight from New Delhi.

"In case of Captain Kathpalia being detected BA (breath-analyzer) positive on November 11, 2018, the privileges of his licence have been suspended for a period of three years from November 11 as per the provisions of applicable regulations," a senior DGCA official had said.

(With inputs from Nagarjun Dwarakanath)