Air India orders mandatory one-time drug tests for all pilots after Phuket–Delhi incident

Mumbai: The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) is actively considering universal, year-round random psychoactive substance testing for all commercial pilots operating in India, according to the Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu. The plan comes as a regulatory shift aimed at tightening safety protocols across the aviation sector after an Air India pilot was tested positive for marijuana consumption.Proposed testing overhaulThe regulatory push comes in the direct aftermath of the August 4 incident onboard Air India flight AI-2379 – a Phuket-to-Delhi Airbus A320 registered as VT-EXO – which suffered a sudden altitude loss of approximately 300 feet during cruise before landing safely in the capital. A subsequent drug test confirmed the flight’s pilot-in-command tested positive for marijuana.Following the incident, The Free Press Journal had reported on August 11 that the union government is evaluating immediate structural reforms, including significantly increased frequency of unannounced, random pre and post-flight dope and alcohol testing for flight crews across all domestic hubs. The previous report also stated that MoCA had issued a strict warning to all Indian air carriers stating that such episodes must never recur.Gurugram Waterlogging Returns After Heavy Rain, School Buses Stranded & Roads Cave InDGCA reviews regulationsOn Tuesday, Kinjarapu confirmed that the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is currently engaging with key stakeholders to revamp the existing rules."One of the opinions from our side is that everyone has to go through it the whole year at a random time," Naidu stated, acknowledging that the aviation ecosystem must adapt to stricter enforcement across its roster of over 12,000 active commercial pilots.According to the existing norms under the current civil aviation requirements, each airline has to screen a minimum of 10% of pilots through periodic random sampling. The Ministry is now considering a framework of randomly testing 100% of commercial pilots throughout the year in an unscheduled random sampling method.Also Watch:Pilot bodies seek safeguardsThe Free Press Journal had also reported on August 18 that the Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) had urged the DGCA for a comprehensive overhaul of the country’s psychoactive-substance testing regulations by increasing the random sampling from 10% to at least 25%.It had also suggested introduction of oral-fluid screening alongside existing urine tests, and enforce strict procedural safeguards to protect crew members.The Airline Pilots' Association of India (ALPA India) had appealed to the DGCA to strictly preserve confidentiality and procedural integrity during random psychoactive substance testing. It cautioned that initial ‘non-negative’ screening results can frequently be triggered by routine over-the-counter self-medication, prescription drugs or dietary habits rather than illicit drug abuse.

Indian pilots may soon undergo annual random drug tests for safety. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation is reviewing current regulations and policies. This move follows an incident involving an Air India pilot testing positive. Airlines are voluntarily conducting one-time dope tests on all their pilots. Investigations into a recent Air India flight incident are also ongoing.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is considering requiring all pilots to undergo at least one random drug test every year, Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu told reporters on Tuesday, following the Air India Phuket-Delhi flight incident.“But just like I said, DGCA is engaging, and one of the opinions from our side is that everyone has to go through it in the year at a random time,” Naidu said.He said the regulator was consulting stakeholders on existing rules governing substance use and possible changes to ensure a stricter policy in the future.Also Read: Pilots struggled to control Air India's Phuket-Delhi aircraft due to rare malfunction, shows Airbus’ initial assessment“Right now, the rule says 10% across the overall pilot network,” Naidu said, referring to the existing requirement for drug testing.— ANI (@ANI) The minister said any change would need to balance aviation safety with the operational impact on airlines.“There are multiple ways of approaching this dope test,” he said, adding that safety would remain the priority while the operational implications would also have to be considered.Naidu's comments come as the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) investigates the Air India Phuket-Delhi flight incident. He said the investigation was underway and that the aircraft's data recorder remained intact and the plane was still in its position.“Because the data recorder and everything is intact, the plane has also been in its position, so I believe that we can expect some preliminary report very early from now,” he said.Also Read: 'Two Air India pilots found non-negative in drug test'The minister did not provide a specific timeline for the preliminary report.Separately, the DGCA's stakeholder consultation is examining how the existing rules on substance use among aviation personnel could be strengthened.Ram Mohan Naidu said the government was looking at different approaches to drug testing, including whether annual random testing should apply across the pilot network, while taking into account both safety requirements and operational considerations.

Government weighing annual dope test for pilots after Air India flight fiasco

The Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) has urged the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) for a comprehensive overhaul of the country’s psychoactive-substance testing regulations following the incident on an Air India flight earlier this month. The pilots’ body has asked to double mandatory random drug testing, introduce oral-fluid screening alongside existing urine tests, and enforce strict procedural safeguards to protect crew members.The 30-page representation to the aviation regulator follows the incident after the pilot-in-command of Air India’s Phuket-Delhi flight AI-2379, which dropped 300ft in altitude while cruising over Odisha, was found to be under the influence of marijuana. Demand Comes After Air India Phuket-Delhi Flight IncidentThe FIP argued that the current regulatory framework, which requires pilots to undergo urine-based screening and mandates a minimum annual random-testing coverage of 10%, is outdated, citing the rapid expansion of India’s aviation sector. The union urged the DGCA to increase the mandatory annual random testing benchmark from 10% to at least 25% of flight crew and ensure that pilots remain eligible for selection multiple times in a single year to maintain genuine, continuous deterrence.The association suggested deployment of oral-fluid testing as a complementary tool alongside urine sampling to create a risk-based hybrid model. According to its study, adopting oral-fluid collection – which is directly observable and can be performed airside or at workplaces in approximately 15 minutes compared to 45 minutes for urine samples – could theoretically cut collection time and crew downtime by up to 66.7%, dramatically increasing testing throughput without causing severe flight disruptions.FIP Calls Current 10% Testing Requirement OutdatedA cornerstone of the FIP’s 30-page submission is the demand for strict medical and procedural safeguards. The union emphasised that detecting a substance during preliminary screening does not automatically establish functional impairment or deliberate misuse. "Neither urine nor oral-fluid testing, by itself, constitutes a direct impairment test," the FIP stressed, warning against a "test-detect-punish" approach.To ensure fairness, the federation insisted that every non-negative screening result must follow a multi-stage evidentiary sequence which includes a rapid point-of-collection or initial immunoassay screen, mandatory secondary testing of non-negative samples using accredited laboratory methods and an independent medical review to evaluate legitimate therapeutic drug use, over-the-counter cross-reactivity or prescribed treatments before any final adverse regulatory determination is made.Digital Payments Rise, But Cash Demand Remains Strong In India: RBI Deputy GovernorOral Fluid Testing Suggested Alongside Urine ScreeningThe FIP highlighted the regulatory precedent from major international civil aviation and transport authorities like those in Australia, the US and the UAE, all of which use oral fluid along with urine as testing framework. Rather than an immediate wholesale replacement of urine testing, the FIP has requested that the DGCA initiate a 12-month controlled pilot programme at selected airports and airlines. The trial would evaluate collector qualification, device reliability, cost-effectiveness per completed test, crew downtime and laboratory turnaround times under actual Indian operational conditions.Alongside physical testing, the federation has urged the regulator to mandate formal pilot education programmes. Pointing out that common over-the-counter cold remedies, first-generation antihistamines, sedating sleep aids and traditional or herbal supplements can yield non-negative results or impair flight performance, the FIP recommended adopting a national "Check Before You Take" campaign.The union called for airlines to establish confidential medication-advisory systems and digital guidance tools so pilots can consult Aviation Medical Examiners (AMEs) without fear of immediate punitive action.

Mumbai: In what can be called a perfect example of locking the stable door after the horse has bolted, Air India has mandated compulsory psychoactive drug screening for its entire cohort of flight crew. Simultaneously, the group’s low-cost carrier has asked its crew to voluntarily disclose the abuse of banned drugs, following an alarming mid-flight incident involving Air India last week.The policy shift was triggered by events aboard flight AI-2379 on August 4, an Airbus A320 flying from Phuket to New Delhi carrying 137 passengers and eight crew members. Cruising over Odisha, the aircraft suffered a sudden 300-foot altitude drop, injuring 20 passengers and four cabin crew.While initial airline statements cited clear-air turbulence, mandatory post-flight drug testing revealed that the pilot-in-command (PIC), Sudeep Vashistha, tested positive for marijuana in a confirmatory lab report. The co-pilot was forced to single-handedly recover control and land the jet after the PIC exhibited erratic behaviour in the cockpit.In an internal email issued to flight deck staff on Thursday, Air India rolled out universal screening of all Group pilots for any substances or medications that are not permitted under prevailing regulations. The airline’s senior vice president for flight operations, Capt Manish Uppal, informed the staff that the mandatory testing had to be started from the same day, concurrent with training at its Gurugram Academy, post-flight at its flight briefing centres, Air India offices or other locations provided by the pilots’ respective bases.“The trust is our most important asset and it is vital that we do all possible to protect and sustain it,” read the email. “The initiative, which goes beyond regulatory requirements, reflects our determination to uphold the highest standards of safety and professionalism and to provide reassurance to our passengers, stakeholders and the community at large.”Air India’s outgoing CEO Campbell Wilson, at his last organisational town hall on Thursday, expressed anger and disappointment towards the employees who flout rules and regulations. He asked employees to report wrongdoings they observe and warned that Air India will continue to tighten checks.Under the current civil aviation requirements (CAR), airlines are only required to run random drug checks on a 10% sample of flight crew annually, alongside post-incident testing. Air India is said to have leapfrogged the existing regulatory framework by subjecting 100% of its cockpit crew to screening after the major incident on AI-2379, which has again brought the airline under intense regulatory and passenger scrutiny.Maharashtra FDA Warns Against Fake Agents Seeking Money For Food & Drug LicencesSimultaneously, low-cost subsidiary Air India Express has launched a parallel internal campaign, urging pilots to voluntarily declare any personal struggles with substance dependency or psychoactive medication abuse. The chief of flight safety urged the employees to self-declare any use, misuse, or dependence on drugs that may affect their fitness for duty and ability to safely perform their assigned duties.“Self-declarations will be handled in a confidential and sensitive manner, with information shared only on a need-to-know basis. The report shall be handled confidentially and access shall be restricted to the Head of Medical Services, Chief Human Resource Officer, Chief of Flight Safety and Departmental Head as applicable,” read the message.Notably, industry sources indicated that other carriers may also bypass standard DGCA rehabilitation pathways to pursue immediate disciplinary termination following the ministry and the regulator’s increased focus on the issue.Also Watch:The Ministry of Civil Aviation and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) are now re-evaluating national regulations to tighten substance abuse checks across all Indian air operators. The DGCA is considering raising the mandatory annual random test quota well above the current 10% threshold while there are discussions over implementing strict penalties like immediate licence cancellation. According to high-level sources, technical committees are also examining the viability of introducing rapid, pre-flight drug tests alongside standard alcohol breathalyser tests.To get details on exclusive and budget-friendly property deals in Mumbai & surrounding regions, do visit: https://budgetproperties.in/

Air India pilots will undergo mandatory drug screening starting Thursday, according to an internal memo seen by AFP, after a captain involved in a serious mid-air incident reportedly tested positive for marijuana. Existing rules require airlines to randomly test at least 10 per cent of their flight crew for psychoactive substances each year. “We have decided to undertake a full screening of all Group pilots for any substances or medications that are not permitted under prevailing regulations,” the memo said. “Testing is mandatory and will start today.” On August 4, at least 24 passengers were injured when an Airbus A320 lost about 300 feet (91 metres) of altitude shortly after departing from Thailand’s Phuket for New Delhi. Local media reports said the main pilot had smoked marijuana and had tested positive in a second confirmatory test. Air India said the results have not been shared with them. Indian investigators have not commented on the reports but said they were closely examining evidence linked to the flight. The inquiry is being supported by Airbus and France’s civil aviation safety agency, the BEA. The incident came as Air India is seeking to overhaul its operations following a string of setbacks. Its reputation suffered a major blow in June 2025 when the London-bound Flight 171 crashed shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad, killing all but one of the 242 people on board and 19 people on the ground. Last week, the airline appointed former Ethiopian Airlines chief Tewolde Gebremariam as its new chief executive.

Air India Group will screen its more than 5,000 pilots for psychoactive substances in an unprecedented one-time action, according to an internal email, after a captain allegedly tested positive for illegal drugs following the mid-air plunge of its Phuket-Delhi flight.

Air India will begin mandatory substance testing for all pilots on Thursday, expanding checks beyond regulatory requirements days after a pilot involved in a serious mid-air incident tested positive for marijuana, according to an internal memo.

NEW DELHI — Air India pilots will undergo mandatory drug screening starting Thursday, according to an internal memo seen by AFP, after a captain involved in a serious mid-air incident reportedly tested positive for marijuana. Existing rules require airlines to randomly test at least 10 percent of their flight crew for psychoactive substances each year. […]

NEW DELHI — Air India pilots will undergo mandatory drug screening starting Thursday, according to an internal memo seen by AFP, after a captain involved in a serious mid-air incident reportedly tested positive for marijuana. Existing rules require airlines to randomly test at least 10 percent of their flight crew for psychoactive substances each year. "We have decided to undertake a full screening of all Group pilots for any substances or medications that are not permitted under prevailing regulations," the memo said. "Testing is mandatory and will start today." On August 4, at least 24 passengers were injured when an Airbus A320 lost about 300 feet (91 meters) of altitude shortly after departing from Thailand's Phuket for New Delhi. Local media reports said the main pilot had smoked marijuana and had tested positive in a second confirmatory test. Air India said the results have not been shared with them. Indian investigators have not commented on the reports but said they were closely examining evidence linked to the flight. The inquiry is being supported by Airbus and France's civil av

Existing rules require airlines to randomly test at least 10 per cent of their flight crew for psychoactive substances each year

Existing rules require airlines to randomly test at least 10% of their flight crew for psychoactive substances each year.

Tests will ​screen for substances and medications prohibited under ​aviation regulations