Air India Expands Drug Testing To All Pilots
Air India will begin mandatory substance testing for all its pilots, expanding checks beyond existing regulatory requirements after a captain involved in a serious mid-air incident tested positive for marijuana. The airline said the testing would cover substances and medications prohibited under aviation regulations and would also include pilots from its budget subsidiary, Air India Express.
The tests will be conducted alongside training sessions at Air India’s Gurugram academy, as well as after flights at briefing centres, offices and locations designated by pilots’ home bases. Current regulations require airlines to randomly test at least 10% of their flight crew for psychoactive substances each year. Air India said it had decided to go further to strengthen safety standards and reassure passengers and other stakeholders.
The move follows an August 4 incident involving an Air India Airbus A320neo flying from Phuket to Delhi, which suddenly lost around 300 feet of altitude during cruise. The captain later tested positive for marijuana in a confirmatory drug test, according to a source familiar with the matter. Authorities are investigating the incident as Air India faces increased scrutiny over flight safety.
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