NEW DELHI, AUGUST 17: Air India Group has sent sample batches from two flight crew members for detailed laboratory confirmation after initial screening protocols yielded “non-negative” indicators for psychoactive substances.
The enhanced screening program was launched by Air India and Air India Express to cover their entire fleet operations, establishing a proactive safety framework across the organization.
“On August 13, Air India and Air India Express started mandatory psychoactive substance testing of all their pilots, expanding checks beyond regulatory requirements,” maintained sources tracking the airline’s safety measures.
The decision to test all 5,000 pilots came in the wake of an mid-air turbulence event on August 4, when a Phuket-Delhi flight experienced a sudden drop of approximately 300 feet while carrying 137 passengers and eight crew members. Subsequent post-flight medical checks revealed that the captain tested positive for marijuana.
“The flight’s pilot-in-command tested positive for marijuana in a confirmatory drug test,” affirmed sources regarding the findings of that investigation, explaining that standard procedure requires a multi-stage testing process before final results are determined.
With around 400 pilots evaluated in the opening phase of the drive, airline authorities are awaiting formal reports on the two flagged samples while continuing routine flight operations.
