Archive · 13 Aug 2026
Air India orders mandatory drug tests for all pilots
An Air India plane was flying from Phuket to Delhi when it suddenly dropped about 300 feet in the air, and 24 people got hurt.
After the flight, officials found that the captain had used a drug called marijuana, which is not allowed for pilots.
Pilots need to be alert and careful, so using drugs is very dangerous.
Because of this, Air India decided to test every single pilot for drugs.
This includes pilots who work for Air India Express, another airline that is part of the same company.
The tests started on August 13 and check for any drugs or medicines that are not allowed.
They will happen during pilot training in Gurugram or at Air India offices in other cities.
The rules already said airlines must randomly test at least 10 out of every 100 pilots each year.
Air India says it is going further than those rules to keep everyone safe.
The tests are meant to protect passengers and the trust people have in Air India.
Air India will carry out mandatory drug testing of all group pilots, including Air India Express pilots, starting August 13.
The policy follows an August 4 incident in which an Air India Airbus A320neo flying Phuket to Delhi suddenly lost about 300 feet of altitude.
A source said the flight's captain tested positive for marijuana in a confirmatory test, though Air India has not officially verified which substance was involved.
Screening covers substances and medications not permitted under regulations and will be held with training at Gurugram or at Air India offices in destination cities.
The testing goes beyond the DGCA rule requiring random screening of at least 10% of flight crew annually; AAIB and DGCA are investigating the incident.
- Who
- Air India and Air India Express pilots; the captain of the Phuket-Delhi flight who tested positive for psychoactive substances
- What
- Air India announced mandatory drug screening for all group pilots following a serious mid-air incident
- When
- Announced and started Thursday, August 13, 2026; following the August 4 incident
- Where
- Gurugram academy, Flight Briefing Centres and Air India offices in destination cities; the incident occurred on a Phuket-Delhi flight
- Why
- A pilot involved in the mid-air incident tested positive for a prohibited substance, and Air India said it wants to uphold safety standards and reassure passengers, stakeholders and the community
Expanded Drug Testing Supporters
Regulatory Minimum Perspective
Scope of pilot drug testing
Expanded Drug Testing Supporters
Testing all pilots, beyond the 10% random testing required by regulations, is necessary to uphold the highest safety standards and reassure passengers and stakeholders following the incident.
Regulatory Minimum Perspective
Existing rules already require random testing of at least 10% of flight crew annually, and a single pilot's positive test may not justify the cost and burden of testing every pilot in the group.
- Airline
- Air India Group, including subsidiary Air India Express
- Policy
- Mandatory drug screening for all group pilots, beyond regulatory minimum
- Start date
- August 13, 2026
- Trigger
- August 4 Phuket-Delhi incident involving an Airbus A320neo
- Altitude loss
- About 300 feet (91 metres) during cruise
- Injuries
- 24 people injured
- Regulatory baseline
- Random testing of at least 10% of flight crew for psychoactive substances annually
- Investigations
- AAIB probing the occurrence; DGCA examining regulatory aspects
