Air India reports that two more pilots have failed preliminary drug screening tests following the Phuket–Delhi flight incident earlier this month. Multiple outlets say the pilots are temporarily de-rostered while samples undergo further confirmatory testing, and final results are awaited.
The tests are part of a broader, mandatory carrier-wide programme launched after the Airbus A320 incident on August 4 (AI-2379), when the pilot-in-command reportedly tested positive for marijuana in a confirmatory test. The screening covers pilots across Air India and Air India Express and is described as going beyond standard regulatory requirements. Sources cited by outlets indicate that preliminary “non-negative” results signal the possible presence of a prohibited psychoactive marker, but do not alone confirm that a prohibited substance was consumed; the confirmatory test is expected to establish that.
Outlets also report context on the incident itself and the investigation: the flight lost about 300 feet of altitude over Odisha, injuring at least 20 passengers and four crew members. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation and the airline’s internal processes ground crew found positive, while the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau continues its inquiry. Some reports add that hundreds of pilots have already been screened since the programme began around August 13.
