National Carrier SriLankan Airlines yesterday suspended Captain Upendra Ranaweera for having delayed a Colombo bound flight from Frankfurt, UL 554, for over 15 hours thereby keeping over 260 passengers waiting.
The flight UL 554 was to leave Frankfurt at 3.20 p.m. on Friday and land at Katunayake at 4.50 a.m. on Saturday.
The catastrophe took place when Captain Ranaweera allegedly failed a breathalyzer test when the UL flight was to depart from Frankfurt on Friday afternoon and this had a cascading effect as all the departures and arrivals at the Bandaranaike International Airport had to be rescheduled, top aviation sources told Ceylon Today last night.
These sources also said that each of the passengers, who had been inconvenienced were to be paid Rs 90,000. SriLankan Airlines Chairman Ajit Dias and CEO Captain Suren Ratwatte were not available for comment despite repeated attempts to reach them. When we tried to reach them, we were told that we would be connected, but within seconds we were told that they were overseas. To add to the confusion, Chairman of the Pilot's Guild, Captain Renuka Senanayake and Secretary Abeysekera were both overseas and not available for comment.
Despite the Airport and Aviation Services ( Sri Lanka) Ltd. Duty Manager at the BIA denying that there were no delays at Katunayake due to the cascading efforts of the delayed Frankfurt flight, aviation sources confirmed that all the flights of the national carrier had to be rescheduled due to the cascading effect. There are 90 arrivals and departures of all airlines daily from the BIA of which the national carrier accounts for 60 of them, BIA sources said.
Meanwhile, a media release issued by the national carrier yesterday, said that the airline, upon receiving the results, took immediate steps to suspend the services of the Captain, and took alternative measures to operate the flight to Colombo.
SriLankan said it had a strict substance abuse policy, and assured the public in its statement that it would thoroughly investigate the matter, and lend its fullest co-operation to law enforcement authorities in Germany.
It reiterated that the safety of passengers and crew are of paramount consideration to the Airline, and would not be compromised under any circumstances.
instead promoted him as a Captain and posted him to another local airline.
BUT THEN THEN THERE WAS NO MEDIA PUBLICITY.
Previously, an incident of this nature had occurred at the London Heathrow Airport where a SriLankan pilot was also under the influence of alcohol and the First Officer's services were terminated.
However, pursuing his case personally, the First Officer got himself cleared by British authorities. Fearing a fundamental rights case being filed against the airline, the senior management requested him to return the letter of termination and instead promoted him as a Captain and posted him to another local airline.
BUT THEN THEN THERE WAS NO MEDIA PUBLICITY.
Previously, an incident of this nature had occurred at the London Heathrow Airport where a SriLankan pilot was also under the influence of alcohol and the First Officer's services were terminated.
However, pursuing his case personally, the First Officer got himself cleared by British authorities. Fearing a fundamental rights case being filed against the airline, the senior management requested him to return the letter of termination and instead promoted him as a Captain and posted him to another local airline.
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