Two More Air India Pilots Fail Initial Dope Test Amid Mandatory Carrier-Wide Screening; More ‘High-Flyers’ Expected, Say Sources

Mumbai: Two additional Air India pilots have tested positive for drugs following the carrier's nationwide screening, according to internal sources. The pilots were immediately removed from duty pending final confirmation. Officials say more crew members may be implicated in the ongoing investigation. The incident began on August 4 when Air India flight AI-2379 experienced severe turbulence over Odisha, causing the aircraft to lose nearly 300 feet altitude.

The incident resulted in injuries to 20+ passengers and four crew members. The pilot-in-command of the affected Airbus A320, which had 137 passengers and eight crew members on board, had tested positive for marijuana. The airline launched a one-time psychoactive substance test for roughly 5,000 pilots across both Air India and Air India Express, testing over 300 pilots by Monday.

Two flight crew members' preliminary urine samples tested non-negative during the initial screening and are being sent for confirmatory testing. The mandatory, carrier-wide screening is being conducted during regular training sessions at Air India's Gurugram academy, as well as post-flight at flight briefing centers and regional bases.

The test exceeds DGCA's standard annual testing requirement for just 10% of flight crew. Any positive test results result in immediate grounding, mandatory de-addiction and rehabilitation for first-time offenders, and permanent loss of the pilot's flying license for repeat violations. The AAIB is investigating the August 4 incident, examining flight data, cockpit records, maintenance logs, and crew medical evaluations.