Air India to screen all pilots for drug abuse after turbulent flight's captain found 'high'
Air India on Thursday announced that all its pilots will undergo mandatory substance-abuse screening before departures, days after the pilot-in-command (PIC) of a Phuket-Delhi flight that suddenly lost altitude tested positive for marijuana.
Twenty-four people, including four crew members, were injured after the Phuket-Delhi AI2379 flight dropped 300 feet during cruise on August 4.
The Tata Group-owned airline said it was going beyond the regulations prescribed by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to "uphold the highest standards of safety and professionalism" and reassure passengers, stakeholders and the wider community.
"We have decided to undertake a full screening of all Group pilots for any substances or medications that are not permitted under prevailing regulations.
The screening will be conducted alongside training at the Gurugram Academy, after flights at Flight Briefing Centres or Air India offices, or at locations designated by the respective bases, it added.
Air India said it has been the flag bearer of Indian aviation for decades and that the professionalism, skill and commitment to safety demonstrated by its pilots and other staff have earned the trust of millions of passengers.
"This trust is our most important asset, and it is vital that we do all possible to protect and sustain it. Many of you have recently reached out to share the same sentiment," the airline said.
The airline said it already fully complies with all regulatory requirements prescribed by the DGCA, which are similar to those followed in other major aviation jurisdictions, including Europe and the United States. However, it said it now felt the need to go beyond those requirements.
The pilots involved in the incident have been off-rostered pending an investigation. The incident has been classified as a serious occurrence and is being investigated by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB).
As part of the prescribed procedures, both pilots underwent screening for psychoactive substances after the flight landed in Delhi. The PIC's initial screening indicated a result that required confirmatory testing, following which the sample was sent to a designated laboratory.
On Wednesday, Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu said that two crew members who suffered spinal injuries in the incident remained admitted to Fortis Hospital.
The AAIB is investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident, while the DGCA will take regulatory action based on the findings of the investigation and the prescribed testing process.