Flydubai sacks pilot who failed alcohol test before flight

Flydubai has sacked a pilot who failed an alcohol test before being due to operate a flight to the UAE from Nepal.

The captain was found to have a blood alcohol level over the legal limit and deemed unfit to operate the July 29 Kathmandu to Dubai flight after colleagues raised concerns.

"Flydubai confirms that the pilot’s employment has been terminated. The safety of our passengers and crew is our priority," an airline spokeswoman told Reuters.

The pilot, who was tested before boarding the plane, has not been identified by the airline.

Flydubai said last month it expected to reprimand the pilot and "has a zero-tolerance policy on flight crew found to be in contravention of the regulations regarding alcohol consumption".

The flight, operated by a replacement crew, arrived in Dubai 10 hours and 30 minutes later than originally scheduled.