Air India mandates drug tests for all pilots after mid-air plunge
Summary
Air India has ordered mandatory drug screening for all its pilots starting Thursday after a serious mid-air incident on an Airbus A320 near Phuket. The airline said it is reviewing substances and medications barred under current rules, while investigators examine the flight with Airbus and France’s BEA. The move comes as Air India tries to rebuild after a series of setbacks, including the 2025 Flight 171 crash.
Key Facts
- The memo says all Group pilots will be screened for substances or medications not permitted under prevailing regulations.
- Existing rules require airlines to randomly test at least 10 percent of their flight crew for psychoactive substances each year.
- At least 24 passengers were injured on Aug. 4 when an Airbus A320 lost about 91 meters of altitude after leaving Phuket for New Delhi.
- Local media reported that the main pilot had smoked marijuana and later tested positive in a second confirmatory test, but Air India said the results had not been shared with it.
- Air India said the inquiry is being supported by Airbus and France’s civil aviation safety agency, the BEA, while the airline also recently appointed Tewolde Gebremariam as chief executive.
An Air India Airbus A350 aeroplane is displayed at Wings India 2024 aviation at Begumpet airport, Hyderabad, India, Jan. 18, 2024. Air India pilots will undergo mandatory drug screening starting Thursday, after a captain involved in a serious mid-air incident reportedly tested positive for marijuana. Reuters-Yonhap
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 Aug. 4, at least 24 passengers were injured when an Airbus A320 lost about 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 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.
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