DGCA may drug-test over 25% of airline crew
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) may soon require Indian airlines to drug-test over 25% of their flight crew members annually, according to top official sources. This proposed requirement would significantly tighten the existing testing regime, where at least 10% of applicable personnel are currently tested through random urine-based screenings.
The move comes after the Air India AI-2379 incident, which involved an altitude loss and passenger injuries, leading to heightened scrutiny of flight crew safety and substance-use protocols. The DGCA is expected to release preliminary findings on the AI-2379 incident within the next 10 days, following a representation submitted by the Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) demanding oral-fluid tests as a complementary screening method.
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