Air India expands drug testing to all pilots after captain tests positive

Air India has launched a mandatory, group-wide substance screening for all pilots, initiating tests across its flight crew following a serious mid-air incident involving a flight from Phuket to Delhi. Reported by Livemint, the testing campaign began on Thursday, August 13, 2026, marking the first group-wide screening of its kind since the Tata Group acquired the airline.

The expanded testing applies across both Air India and its budget subsidiary, Air India Express. Under prevailing Directorate General of Civil Aviation rules, airlines are only required to randomly test at least 10 percent of their flight crew annually for psychoactive substances. By screening its entire pilot roster, the airline is intentionally surpassing baseline regulatory mandates.

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The emergency initiative was triggered by an August 4, 2026, flight incident aboard an Airbus A320neo operating as flight AI2379 from Phuket to Delhi. The aircraft suddenly lost approximately 300 feet of altitude during cruise. While the plane ultimately stabilized and landed safely in Delhi, the sudden drop resulted in injuries to passengers and crew members.

Both cockpit crew members were immediately removed from flying duties pending investigation. According to reports cited by Emirates247 and India Today, the pilot-in-command underwent mandatory psychoactive screening where an initial test indicated a positive result, subsequently confirmed by a laboratory test returning positive for marijuana. However, The Hindu Business Line noted that the specific recreational drug or medication had not yet been officially verified by all authorities, and Livemint reported that internal communications from Air India's senior vice president of operations, Manish Uppal, described the screening broadly as a safety measure without naming the Phuket flight or specific test outcomes.

In an internal communication, the airline stated:

"We nevertheless now feel that it is important to go further. Accordingly, we have decided to undertake a full screening of all Group pilots for any substances or medications that are not permitted under prevailing regulations."

Air India, Internal memo, via Emirates247 and The Hindu Business Line

Investigators are also probing potential mechanical factors alongside human conduct. A post-flight maintenance report recovered from the Airbus A320neo documented 11 system alerts within a brief timeframe, including three consecutive low-pressure warnings across the green, yellow, and blue hydraulic systems, followed by an autopilot disconnection. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau, aided by France's Bureau of Enquiry and Analysis for Civil Aviation Safety and aircraft manufacturer Airbus, is examining whether these technical warnings correlated with the altitude variation.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has asked the Directorate General of Civil Aviation to review India's existing dope-testing framework by studying international protocols to determine whether penalties and testing structures require strengthening across the wider aviation sector. Under current Directorate General of Civil Aviation guidelines, a first-time positive test requires mandatory rehabilitation before fitness re-certification, a second violation risks a three-year license suspension, and a third violation results in permanent license cancellation.

Key Details of the Expanded Screening and Incident Response

• Testing Rollout: Began on Thursday, August 13, 2026, covering all pilots across Air India and Air India Express.
• Testing Venues: Conducted alongside training sessions at the Gurugram Academy, at flight briefing centres, airline offices, and designated home bases.
• Aircraft Incident: Flight AI2379 from Phuket to Delhi on August 4, 2026, involving an Airbus A320neo that dropped roughly 300 feet.
• Investigation Leads: Conducted by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau, supported by France's Bureau of Enquiry and Analysis for Civil Aviation Safety and Airbus, examining technical logs, hydraulic warnings, and flight data recorders.

Industry analysts offer mixed perspectives on the immediate impact of the policy. Speaking to Livemint, Elara Securities senior vice president Gagan Dixit noted that because individual test results remain confidential under privacy protocols, the internal campaign primarily serves as a disciplinary and precautionary measure rather than an immediate fix for public confidence following a string of recent airline scrutiny.

As the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau prepares an interim investigation report within a month, attention turns to how government regulators will reshape national aviation medical and substance policies.