Air India imposes drug tests on all its pilots after a serious incident

Air India will now subject all its pilots to mandatory drug testing to detect the use of narcotics or medications prohibited by aviation regulations. Until now, Indian airlines were required to randomly test at least 10% of their flight crew annually. This decision comes after a serious incident on August 4th aboard an Airbus A320 flying from Phuket, Thailand, to New Delhi. The aircraft suddenly lost approximately 300 feet (91 meters) shortly after takeoff, injuring 24 passengers.

According to several local media outlets, the captain reportedly consumed cannabis and tested positive after a second test. Air India, however, claims not to have received the test results, while Indian authorities have not publicly confirmed this information. They indicate they are reviewing the evidence gathered as part of the investigation. Airbus and the French Bureau of Enquiry and Analysis for Civil Aviation Safety (BEA) are also participating in the investigation into this event, which has been officially classified as a serious incident.

A company facing a series of difficulties

Since its acquisition by the Tata Group in 2022, Air India has been undertaking a major restructuring aimed at modernizing its fleet and restoring its image. The airline has ordered several hundred aircraft, but its recovery remains complicated by delivery delays and airspace closures caused by the 2025 Indo-Pakistani conflict. The Phuket incident represents another setback for a company striving to improve its safety procedures and the reliability of its operations.

Air India remains most marked by the crash of Flight 171 in June 2025. The Boeing 787, bound for London, crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad. Of the 242 people on board, only one survived, while 19 others were killed on the ground. To lead its recovery, the airline appointed Tewolde Gebremariam, former head of Ethiopian Airlines, as its CEO. Widespread testing of pilots is one of the first significant measures taken in this new context.