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Two More Air India Pilots Test Positive in Mandatory Substance Screening

Two additional pilots from the Air India Group have returned positive results for psychoactive substances during a comprehensive mandatory screening initiative across the carrier’s flight crew, according to people familiar with the matter. The special testing programme was launched following an August 4 incident involving a Phuket-Delhi flight that experienced a sudden altitude drop, leaving 24 people injured.

What Happened

The positive screening results emerged during a one-time screening exercise initiated on August 13. To date, approximately 300 to 400 of the estimated 5,000 pilots across Air India and Air India Express have undergone testing. Following the initial screening results, both pilots were taken off the duty roster, and their biological samples were forwarded for a secondary confirmatory test in compliance with civil aviation regulations.

The widespread screening drive was prompted by an event on flight AI2379, an Airbus A320 carrying 137 passengers—including three infants—and eight crew members from Phuket to Delhi. On August 4, the aircraft suddenly lost approximately 300 feet in altitude, injuring 20 passengers and four crew members before landing safely in Delhi. Following post-flight testing, the pilot-in-command returned an initial non-negative result for marijuana, which was subsequently verified by a confirmatory test. Both the captain and the co-pilot were taken off duty rosters immediately after the flight.

The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) classified the Phuket-Delhi event as a serious incident and is conducting an inquiry with assistance from aircraft manufacturer Airbus and France’s Bureau of Enquiry and Analysis for Civil Aviation Safety (BEA). In an email sent to flight crew on August 13, Air India announced it was executing a full screening for substances and medications prohibited under current rules. The airline indicated that the testing is being carried out at its training academy in Gurugram, at post-flight briefing centres, and at designated local base facilities.

Key Highlights

  • Two additional pilots have tested positive for psychoactive substances during an internal screening campaign.
  • Both individuals have been grounded pending the outcome of second confirmatory tests.
  • Around 300 to 400 of roughly 5,000 group pilots have been tested since the exercise commenced on August 13.
  • The screening follows an August 4 incident where flight AI2379 dropped 300 feet, injuring 24 occupants; its pilot-in-command later tested positive for marijuana.
  • Routine random drug screening mandated by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) continues to operate independently of this special drive.
  • Air India’s outgoing Chief Executive Officer Campbell Wilson was recently summoned by the Ministry of Civil Aviation to brief officials regarding the incident.

Why This Matters

This initiative represents an operational measure beyond the baseline testing required by aviation authorities. Under standard Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) rules, airline personnel are subject to random testing while on duty. DGCA regulations stipulate that a first confirmed positive test does not bring immediate licence cancellation or suspension; instead, the crew member must complete a rehabilitation or de-addiction programme, pass another urine test, and obtain medical clearance before resuming flight duties. A second violation results in a three-year licence suspension, while a third confirmed violation leads to complete licence cancellation.

Air India’s internal standards are understood to be more stringent than the DGCA baseline. The heightened scrutiny follows broader concerns regarding operational safety within the airline group, including the crash of flight AI171 in June of last year, which claimed 260 lives. The recent altitude loss on the Phuket-Delhi route has placed additional attention on passenger safety and operational governance.

What to Watch Next

Attention remains focused on several formal processes and potential regulatory actions:

  • Results of the second confirmatory tests for the two newly grounded pilots.
  • The completion and findings of the ongoing investigation by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), alongside BEA and Airbus.
  • Potential internal disciplinary decisions by Air India regarding the operating crew of flight AI2379 once internal inquiries conclude.
  • The progression of the group-wide screening programme across the remaining workforce of approximately 5,000 pilots.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many Air India pilots have been screened so far?

According to sources familiar with the matter, approximately 300 to 400 pilots out of roughly 5,000 across Air India and Air India Express have been tested under the one-time screening exercise.

What actions were taken against the two pilots who tested positive?

Both pilots have been taken off the active duty roster, and their samples have been submitted for secondary confirmatory testing as outlined by regulatory procedures.

What are the regulatory penalties for a positive substance test under DGCA rules?

A first confirmed violation requires the pilot to undergo a rehabilitation programme, clear a subsequent test, and obtain fresh medical fitness clearance before returning to flying. A second violation carries a three-year licence suspension, and a third results in licence cancellation.

Source: Reporting based on information published by Business Standard.