Air India Expands Drug Testing to All Pilots After Captain Tests Positive for Marijuana
Air India said the checks go beyond regulatory requirements and will be done alongside training or after flights at airports and other bases.
- On Thursday, Air India and Air India Express launched mandatory, comprehensive substance testing for all pilots, covering prohibited substances and medications under aviation regulations.
- This initiative follows scrutiny of flight AI-2379, which experienced a sudden 300ft altitude drop over Odisha on August 4, after which the captain tested positive for marijuana.
- Over 5,000 pilots across Tata Group airlines will undergo screening at the Gurugram Academy and other designated bases, exceeding the Directorate General of Civil Aviation's 10% annual random testing requirement.
- The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau is probing the incident with technical assistance from Airbus and France's BEA, while the Civil Aviation Ministry reviews international drug-testing practices for potential regulatory changes.
- Senior Vice President of Flight Operations Manish Uppal stated the airline feels it is "important to go further" to uphold safety standards and provide reassurance to passengers and stakeholders.
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On August 4, an Air India flight from Phuket, Thailand to New Delhi, suddenly lost altitude during take-off, causing 24 injuries. The Airbus A320 pilot was tested positive for cannabis after the incident. Since Thursday, August 13, the Indian company has submitted a mandatory narcotics test to all its pilots.
An Air India pilot has tested positive for marijuana. He had to undergo the drug test after suddenly dropping about 90 meters during a flight. Following the incident, Air India has decided to test all of its more than 5,000 pilots for drugs.
The airline announces it will subject its crew members to drug and unauthorized medication tests.
Random tests, alcohol checks, zero-tolerance: How India tests its pilots for drugs
The Air India Phuket-Delhi incident has drawn attention to how pilots in India are tested for drugs and alcohol. The case underlines why regulators enforce random checks and a zero-tolerance safety regime.
The Air India pilot's dope test has raised questions about how intoxication is detected in the body. What are the various tests, how are samples taken, and what happens if the test is positive?
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