‘Drug test for all pilots’: Air India e-mail after Phuket-Delhi incident

Air India announced on Thursday that all group pilots, including those from Air India Express, will undergo mandatory drug testing starting August 13. The email, seen by The Indian Express, stated that the tests will screen for any substances or medications not permitted under regulations. All tests would be conducted concurrently with training at the airline's Gurugram facility or, in the cases of flights in the air at the time or pilots not in Delhi-NCR, at Air India offices in destination cities.

This initiative goes beyond regulatory requirements, reflecting the company's commitment to safety and professionalism and providing reassurance to passengers, stakeholders, and the community. The expanded drug tests order follows a serious mid-air incident involving an Air India Phuket-Delhi flight, which fell 300 feet and injured 24 people.

Initially attributed to severe turbulence, sources suggest the pilot-in-command tested positive for marijuana, though hydraulic and control system issues are also being investigated by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau.