{
  "id": 3230113,
  "title": "DGCA Mulls 100% Annual Dope Testing For Pilots After Air India Flight Suffers 300-Foot Altitude Drop",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/25/dgca-mulls-100-annual-dope-testing-for-pilots-after-air-india-flight",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-25T08:19:36.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Press Journal",
    "slug": "free-press-journal",
    "url": "https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/dgca-mulls-100-annual-dope-testing-for-pilots-after-air-india-flight-suffers-300-foot-altitude-drop"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "New Delhi: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is contemplating mandatory annual dope testing for all pilots to enhance aviation safety, a move that could impact both safety standards and operational efficiency of airlines. Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu stated that the DGCA is consulting stakeholders to explore the feasibility of the proposed policy. Currently, the rule mandates testing of 10% of pilots across the network; however, the DGCA is considering expanding this to 100% annual testing at random intervals. Naidu acknowledged the need to weigh safety concerns against the operational impact on airlines, emphasizing that the final decision would depend on the stakeholders' response to this potential change. The news follows a recent incident where Air India flight AI2379, on a flight from Phuket to Delhi, experienced a sudden 300-foot altitude drop, resulting in injuries to 20 passengers and four cabin crew members. The aircraft, an Airbus A320 with registration VT-EXO, safely landed in Delhi, carrying 137 passengers and six crew members. The plane had also raised technical warnings related to its hydraulic systems, flight controls, and autopilot during the flight.",
  "summary": "New Delhi: Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu on Tuesday said the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is considering 100 per cent annual dope testing of pilots as part of efforts to strengthen aviation safety. Speaking to reporters in Delhi, Naidu said the existing rules provide for dope testing of 10 per cent of pilots across the overall pilot network, while the DGCA is engaging…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}