Airlines directed by DGCA to test all pilots following Air India drugs row, report says
- The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has ordered all pilots to undergo a one-time drug test by July next year, Bloomberg reported on Thursday.
- Triggering the decision, an Air India-operated Airbus A320 suffered hydraulic failure and lost about 300 feet in altitude, with the pilot subsequently testing positive for illegal drugs.
- In an interim report released last Friday, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau flagged drug use as a serious concern, though Investigators have not determined if the condition played a role in the descent.
- Regulators are separately engaging with airlines to strengthen the existing drug-testing framework, aiming to make screening a systematic part of pilot oversight for psychoactive substances.
- Globally, aviation authorities are tightening cockpit crew scrutiny; Malaysia Airlines introduced mandatory testing in August after a crew member was arrested for alleged narcotics smuggling.
22 Articles
22 Articles
DGCA orders drug tests for pilots across airlines after Air India Phuket flight scare
The DGCA has told all airlines to conduct drug tests for pilots, with the exercise to be completed by July 2027. The move follows the Air India Phuket-Delhi incident and fresh scrutiny of psychoactive substance use in aviation safety.
Air India Pilot Drug Test Shock: DGCA Orders One-Time Psychoactive Substance Screening for All Pilots | 📰 LatestLY
The aviation regulator has ordered airlines to conduct a one-time psychoactive substance test on all pilots, with testing in the current cycle running until July 31 next year, people aware of the matter said on Thursday. The move comes days after the pilot-in-command (PIC) of the August 4 Phuket-Delhi Air India flight tested 'non-negative' for such a substance. 📰 Air India Pilot Drug Test Shock: DGCA Orders One-Time Psychoactive Substance Scree…
DGCA to drug test all pilots after Air India Phuket-Delhi flight captain fired for being under the influence on duty
India's aviation regulator mandates one-time drug screening for all pilots by July 2027 due to safety concerns. This follows an incident involving an Air India pilot who tested positive for drugs after a significant malfunction. Stricter screening rules are expected to be finalised soon.
The Economic Times
Times of IndiaAirlines directed by DGCA to test all pilots following Air India drugs row, report says
The move follows an unusual incident involving an Air India-operated Airbus SE A320, in which all three hydraulic systems failed. Such a simultaneous failure is considered highly unlikely in an aircraft designed with multiple layers of redundancy. The pilot of the plane was later found to be under the influence.
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