Air India to test all pilots for banned substances

Air India has announced plans to test all of its pilots for banned substances, starting immediately. This comes after a recent incident where the airline's flight from Phuket to Delhi lost altitude unexpectedly during take-off, with a preliminary report indicating that the senior pilot had failed a recent substance test, which came back positive for marijuana.

The new testing policy will also apply to pilots at Air India Express, the airline's budget arm, effective from Thursday. Currently, the rule mandates that at least 10% of pilots undergo random tests. The incident occurred on August 4th when the Airbus A320 lost approximately 91 meters (300 feet) of altitude shortly after departure, causing injury to 17 passengers and crew members.

The airline and the affected individuals are being investigated jointly by Indian authorities, Airbus, and France's air safety agency. Both pilots involved in the incident have been placed on leave pending the outcome of the investigation.

In a memo shared with the BBC, Air India emphasized the importance of going beyond regulatory requirements, stating that this initiative demonstrates their commitment to maintaining the highest standards of safety and professionalism. The move aims to reassure passengers, stakeholders, and the broader community.

The airline has been under scrutiny following another incident in June 2025, where an Air India flight from Ahmedabad to London crashed shortly after take-off, resulting in the loss of 241 lives on board and 19 people on the ground. Only one survivor was reported. To complement the new testing policy, Air India is conducting additional training sessions at its academy, as well as at other locations such as briefing centers and offices.

The new CEO of Air India, former Ethiopian Airlines executive Tewolde Gebremariam, took up his position last week.