New Delhi: In response to a severe mid-air altitude drop that left 24 people injured, Air India and its subsidiary Air India Express have announced comprehensive, mandatory psychoactive substance screening for their entire roster of over 5,000 pilots. The decisive safety measure follows revelations that the pilot-in-command of an August 4 flight from Phuket to Delhi tested positive for marijuana during post-flight confirmatory testing. Internal communications sent to flight crews confirmed that the Tata Group-owned carriers will conduct full screenings to ensure strict adherence to aviation regulations and restore public confidence.
The mandatory testing initiative begins immediately and will be conducted concurrently across multiple key operational locations, including the airlines’ Gurugram Training Academy, post-flight briefing centres, regional offices, and designated pilot bases. Moving beyond standard random regulatory drug checks, the twin airlines have opted to institute full fleet testing to eliminate potential safety risks. The pilot in question had been operating flight AI2379 when the Airbus A320 suddenly lost 300 feet of altitude while cruising, resulting in injuries to 20 passengers and four cabin crew members before the co-pilot stabilized the aircraft for a safe landing in New Delhi.
Subsequent post-flight medical evaluations of the flight crew revealed a preliminary non-negative result for the captain, which was later confirmed by laboratory analysis to be positive for psychoactive substances. Aviation authorities, including the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, immediately removed both crew members from flying duties pending a thorough inquiry into the medical findings as well as reported technical anomalies during the flight. Air India management emphasized that the proactive fleet-wide testing programme aims to enforce uncompromised safety standards while reassuring passengers and industry stakeholders across its global network
