Air India announced it will immediately begin testing all of its pilots for banned substances, a move that extends beyond current regulatory requirements. This decision follows an incident on August 4, where a flight from Phuket to Delhi suddenly lost approximately 91 meters (300 feet) of altitude shortly after departure, resulting in injuries to 17 passengers and crew.
A preliminary report indicated that the senior pilot on that flight had to retake a substance test and reportedly tested positive for marijuana. Both pilots from the affected flight have been removed from duty pending the outcome of the ongoing investigation, which involves Indian authorities working in conjunction with Airbus and France's air safety agency.
The expanded testing protocol will also apply to pilots at Air India Express, the airline's budget carrier, starting Thursday. Previously, regulations mandated random testing for at least 10% of pilots.
In a company memo, Air India stated the initiative reflects a determination to uphold the highest safety and professionalism standards. The tests will cover prohibited substances and medications as defined by aviation regulations and are being conducted at various locations, including training academies, briefing centers, and offices.
This development occurs as Air India, which appointed former Ethiopian Airlines CEO Tewolde Gebremariam as its new chief executive last week, faces scrutiny following a June 2025 incident. In that event, a flight from Ahmedabad to London crashed shortly after takeoff, leading to 241 fatalities on board and 19 on the ground. Only one passenger survived the crash.