Air India has begun mandatory psychoactive-substance screening for all its pilots after the captain of a Phuket-Delhi flight tested positive for marijuana in a confirmatory laboratory test following a serious mid-air incident. The airline’s new testing regime, which also covers pilots of Air India Express, goes beyond the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)’s existing requirement of randomly testing at least 10% of flight crew for prohibited substances each year.
The move follows Air India flight AI2379’s sudden loss of around 300 feet in altitude on August 4 while flying from Phuket to Delhi, an incident that injured passengers and crew and is being investigated by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB). The government has asked the airline to take responsibility and strengthen safety oversight, while the DGCA has been asked to review its testing framework. Air India has said the wider screening is intended to reinforce safety standards and passenger confidence.
Mandatory Screening
The new testing programme began on Thursday, August 13, and applies to pilots across the Air India group, including Air India Express. According to an internal communication reported by Reuters, pilots will undergo testing at multiple points, including during training at the airline’s Gurugram academy, after flights at designated Flight Briefing Centres and at their respective home bases. The initiative represents a significant expansion from the current regulatory framework, under which organisations are required to ensure that at least 10% of relevant employees are tested annually for psychoactive substances.
The immediate trigger was the post-flight testing of the captain of AI2379. Both pilots underwent mandatory screening after the aircraft encountered a sudden altitude loss on August 4. The captain’s initial test was not negative and was subsequently sent for confirmatory laboratory testing. The second test reportedly detected marijuana. The development is significant because aviation regulations prohibit flight crew from undertaking safety-sensitive duties while affected by psychoactive substances. However, the positive result by itself should not be treated as proof that the captain was under the influence at the precise moment of the altitude-loss incident; the ongoing investigation must establish whether, and to what extent, substance use had any connection with what happened onboard.
What Happened On The Phuket-Delhi Flight?
Air India flight AI2379, an Airbus A320, was travelling from Phuket to New Delhi on August 4 when it suddenly lost approximately 300 feet of altitude during cruise over India. The aircraft stabilised and landed safely in Delhi, but the incident was serious enough for the DGCA to remove both pilots from the flying roster while investigations continued. Eight passengers and four crew members were reported injured. The AAIB is examining the incident, with the aircraft’s Flight Data Recorder and Cockpit Voice Recorder secured for analysis. Airbus has also said it will provide specialists to assist with the investigation.
The incident has also raised questions about the aircraft’s technical condition. A post-flight maintenance report cited by The Times of India reportedly recorded several system warnings, including issues involving hydraulic systems, flight controls and the autopilot. These details remain part of the broader investigation, and the AAIB has cautioned against drawing conclusions before all available evidence is examined. This distinction is important: the captain’s positive drug test is a serious regulatory matter, but investigators still need to determine the precise causes and contributing factors behind the altitude loss.
The government’s response has been firm. Aviation Secretary Samir Sinha has stressed accountability and instructed Air India to take all necessary measures to ensure flight safety. The Ministry of Civil Aviation has also directed the DGCA to strengthen its drug-testing protocols, including considering wider testing of aviation personnel. Air India’s expanded screening is therefore not only an internal disciplinary measure but part of a wider effort to reassure passengers that safety checks are being strengthened after a troubling incident.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Aviation safety leaves little room for complacency. Pilots carry an enormous responsibility because their decisions can affect hundreds of lives within seconds, making strict safeguards against substance use essential. At the same time, a positive test should not become a shortcut to determining the cause of an aviation incident. The distinction between having a substance detected in one’s system and being impaired while operating an aircraft must be established through evidence, not assumption.
Air India’s decision to expand testing can help rebuild confidence if it is implemented transparently, consistently and alongside stronger monitoring of fatigue, medication, training and aircraft maintenance. The focus should ultimately remain on accountability without scapegoating, and on learning from every incident to make flying safer for everyone. Do you think mandatory testing of all pilots should become the standard across India’s airlines, and what other safety checks should be strengthened?
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STORY | Air India to test all pilots for drugs after captain tests positive for marijuana
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) August 13, 2026
Air India and Air India Express will begin mandatory psychoactive substance testing of all their pilots on Thursday, expanding checks beyond regulatory requirements, following the captain… pic.twitter.com/4UKmaoRhtx
