Air India flight turbulence: Pilot body issues advisory, seeks confidentiality

The pilot-in-command of Air India Flight AI 609, which experienced severe turbulence on August 4 while en route from Phuket to Delhi, submitted to a "non-negative" drug test following the incident. This led to 17 injuries and prompted the Airline Pilots' Association of India (ALPA India) to issue a cautionary advisory to its members.

The advisory highlighted the potential for false positive results from over-the-counter medications commonly used in India, urging the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to ensure the confidentiality and dignity of the drug testing process. ALPA India emphasized that a non-negative screening result is merely a preliminary flag, requiring further laboratory confirmation before any definitive conclusion can be drawn.

They stressed that such a result should not be reported as a positive drug test until confirmatory testing is completed, as this could be factually inaccurate and damaging to the pilot's reputation. The association also warned pilots against self-medicating, advising them to consult their organization's medical-in-charge or an aviation medical examiner before taking any new medication, particularly common cold, cough, allergy, and sleep-aid formulations, which may contain ingredients that trigger non-negative screens.

They urged pilots to declare all medications on the testing form at the time of sample collection, as this allows for a medical review officer to distinguish legitimate therapeutic use from problematic use. ALPA India appealed to the DGCA to maintain strict confidentiality regarding any aviation personnel undergoing screening, non-negative results, or confirmatory testing, ensuring that details remain confidential between the employee, the organization's medical-in-charge, the medical review officer, and the regulator's Directorate of Air Safety.

They emphasized that first-time positive confirmatory results lead to counselling and rehabilitation, not automatic suspension, and that there is no reason for pilots to conceal medication use or avoid testing out of fear. Transparency, ALPA India stated, protects members far more than silence.