Archive · 14 Aug 2026
Air India mandates drug screening for all pilots after Phuket flight
An airplane was flying from Phuket to Delhi when it suddenly dropped about 300 feet in the air.
There were 145 people on the plane, and 24 of them got hurt.
The plane still landed safely in Delhi.
After the flight, the pilot was tested for drugs that pilots are not allowed to use.
The test showed the pilot had used one of those substances.
So the airline, Air India, decided that every pilot in the group must take this drug test.
The tests will happen at training centres and after flights at airline offices.
Pilots who fail may be sent to a rehabilitation programme to get help.
If a pilot fails a second time, their licence can be suspended for three years, and a third failure means it is cancelled.
Air India says these checks are to keep passengers safe.
Air India and Air India Express have made psychoactive substance screening mandatory for all of their more than 5,000 pilots, effective August 13.
The move follows the August 4 incident in which flight AI2379 lost about 300 feet in altitude during cruise; 20 passengers and four cabin crew were injured.
The pilot-in-command tested positive for a psychoactive substance in confirmatory testing; sources said the substance was marijuana.
Screening will be held at the Gurugram Academy, flight briefing centres, Air India offices and base locations, going beyond DGCA requirements.
The AAIB is investigating with technical assistance from France's BEA and Airbus, while the DGCA has taken both flight crew members off the roster.
- Who
- Air India and Air India Express pilots; the pilot-in-command of flight AI2379 who tested positive for a psychoactive substance; the AAIB, DGCA, BEA and Airbus investigating.
- What
- Mandatory psychoactive substance screening for all group pilots announced after the pilot-in-command's positive drug test, while the AAIB investigates the altitude-loss incident.
- When
- Screening starts Thursday, August 13; the flight incident occurred on August 4.
- Where
- The flight was from Phuket to Delhi; screening takes place at the Gurugram Academy, flight briefing centres, Air India offices and base locations.
- Why
- To uphold the highest safety standards and reassure passengers after the pilot-in-command tested positive for a prohibited substance.
- Airlines
- Air India and Air India Express (Tata Group-owned)
- Policy
- Mandatory psychoactive substance screening for all group pilots, effective August 13
- Flight involved
- AI2379, Airbus A320 (registration VT-EXO), Phuket-Delhi
- Incident date
- August 4
- Altitude loss
- Approximately 300 feet during cruise
- People on board
- 145 (137 passengers, 8 crew)
- Injured
- At least 24 (20 passengers, 4 cabin crew)
- Pilot test result
- Positive for psychoactive substance; sources said marijuana
Sources
After Phuket Delhi pilot tests positive, Air India to conduct psychoactive substance test for all pilots
Phuket-Delhi altitude drop: Drug screening mandatory for all pilots, Air India expands DGCA guidelines