The police have confirmed the arrest of a senior Lion Air pilot after he was caught to be in possession of illegal drugs in a hotel in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara.
“He is suspected to have consumed drugs in the form of crystal meth and there are remaining drugs that have not been consumed weighing around 0.57 mg,” said East Nusa Tenggara police spokesperson Sr. Comr. Jules A Abast, as quoted by Tribunnews.
The pilot, initialled MS, was arrested on Monday after the local police raided his room in Kupang’s T more Hotel, where he was found to be in possession of drugs and accompanied by an unidentified woman. He is currently under investigation at the Kupang Police Station.
Lion Air has since also confirmed that MS is indeed a pilot of the airline who has been working for Lion since 2014. The airline added that the suspect has had health checks, as well as shown good work ethics and behaviour.
“The Lion Air management carries out urine checks on aeroplane crews every morning on their first flights in accordance with the regulation. Specifically for pilots, a health test is also done once every six months,” said Lion Air Group Corporate Spokesperson Ramaditya Handoko.
Rama added that MS would be fired immediately if there was any evidence he had been using narcotics.
This is not the first time, a Lion Aircrew has been caught in drug-related cases. In 2015, a Lion Air pilot and two flight attendants were arrested by officers from the National Narcotics Agency (BNN) at a “drug party” in South Tangerang.