Two more Air India pilots grounded after initial dope tests
Air India has taken two more pilots off duty after they tested positive in initial dope tests, part of a mandatory screening of nearly 5,000 cockpit crew members that began on August 13. The confirmatory test results are still awaited, according to The New Indian Express.
The screening follows an incident in which the captain of a Phuket-Delhi flight (AI 2379) tested positive for marijuana last week. Air India and Air India Express are now testing all group pilots for prohibited psychoactive substances, a move confirmed by Manish Uppal, Air India's head of flight operations, who announced the mandatory screening would start on 13 August 2026.
A source told The New Indian Express that between 300 and 400 pilots have been screened so far, with two testing "non-negative"—a term indicating traces of substances that can only be confirmed as positive after a second test.
Pilots' body calls for saliva testing
Captain C S Randhawa, president of the Federation of Indian Pilots, said that three out of the 300-odd pilots tested have shown positive results, amounting to one per cent, which he called "very high" and requiring "strict action." He has recommended saliva testing as a quicker and more reliable alternative.
In a letter to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the Civil Aviation Secretary on Monday, Randhawa urged the adoption of swab (saliva) testing for pilots. He cited Australia as the first country to use this method, noting that results can be obtained in 15 minutes before a flight trip commences.
Captain Mohan Ranganathan, an aviation safety consultant, said that pilots must be grounded until the results of the second test come in.
Air India, in its response, said it did not have details regarding the nature of the sample for the confirmatory test, the status of the pilots after the first test, or other specifics.
Regulatory response: Raising random testing to 25%
The Civil Aviation Ministry is considering increasing random drug testing of flight personnel from 10% to over 25%, as reported by Outlook India, citing sources. This proposed change follows the Air India incident, during which the plane abruptly lost altitude and plunged 300 feet, injuring 24 passengers.
The Centre also intends to modify regulations to ensure stringent penalties for aviators who fail narcotics screenings.
Background: Existing drug-testing rules
The DGCA established guidelines on psychoactive substance use among aviation personnel in September 2021, effective January 2022, in line with ICAO standards. Current protocols require annual random screening of at least 10% of flight crew members and air traffic controllers. The rules also cover aircraft maintenance engineers, certifying staff, trainee pilots, instructors, and examiners.
Urine samples are split into two sealed containers and tested for six drug categories. Prohibited substances include amphetamines, opiates, cannabis (THC), cocaine, barbiturates, and benzodiazepines.
As the confirmatory tests continue, the aviation industry awaits further clarity on both the individual cases and the broader regulatory changes being considered.