2 weeks ago
Two More Air India Pilots Fail Drug Tests Amid Screening
Air India is a big airline in India.
Some of its pilots fly planes with many passengers.
Recently, one pilot was found to have used a drug called marijuana before flying.
That is against the rules because pilots must be very careful.
After that, the airline decided to test almost all of its pilots for drugs.
More than 300 pilots have been tested so far.
Two more pilots had results that might show drug use.
They are not allowed to fly until more tests are done.
If a pilot is found to have used drugs, they must stop flying and get help.
If they do it again, they can lose their flying license forever.
Two more Air India Group pilots tested "non-negative" in preliminary drug tests during the airline's mandatory carrier-wide screening and were immediately de-rostered pending confirmatory testing.
The screening follows the August 4 incident on flight AI-2379 (Phuket-Delhi), where the pilot-in-command tested positive for marijuana after a sudden 300ft altitude loss over Odisha injured more than 20 passengers and four crew members.
Air India Group ordered a mandatory one-time psychoactive substance test for approximately 5,000 pilots across Air India and Air India Express, exceeding the DGCA's routine annual testing requirement of only 10% of flight crew.
More than 300 pilots had been tested by Monday, four days after the rollout began on August 13, with one report citing around 400 pilots tested so far.
Under DGCA rules, pilots testing positive are grounded immediately; first-time offenders must complete de-addiction and rehabilitation programs and pass fresh drug tests, while repeat violations result in permanent cancellation of the flying license.
- Who
- Air India Group pilots and crew, Air India, Air India Express, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the Ministry of Civil Aviation, and the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB).
- What
- Two more Air India pilots failed preliminary drug tests during a mandatory carrier-wide screening drive ordered after the pilot-in-command of flight AI-2379 tested positive for marijuana following a mid-air incident.
- Where
- India, including Mumbai, New Delhi, Odisha, and the airline's Gurugram training academy; the affected flight operated between Phuket and Delhi.
- When
- The screening rollout began on August 13, with over 300 pilots tested by Monday (four days later); the triggering incident occurred on August 4.
- Why
- To address substance abuse among flight crew after the pilot-in-command of the Phuket-Delhi flight was found under the influence of marijuana following a severe turbulence incident.
Key facts
- Airline
- Air India Group (Air India and Air India Express)
- Flight involved
- AI-2379 (Phuket-Delhi)
- Incident date
- August 4
- Aircraft
- Airbus A320 carrying 137 passengers and 8 crew members
- Altitude loss
- 300 feet over Odisha
- Injuries
- More than 20 passengers and 4 crew members injured
- Pilots to be screened
- Approximately 5,000 across Air India and Air India Express
- DGCA routine requirement
- Annual drug testing of only 10% of flight crew
Sources
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