In brief
Following a sudden altitude loss on a Phuket‑to‑Delhi flight, Air India has ordered a full‑scale drug test of all its pilots. The incident led to a pilot who tested positive for marijuana being re‑examined, prompting the airline to push beyond the 10% random–testing rule. Both pilots were grounded while investigators probe the event. Air India’s new boss, former Ethiopian Airlines chief, is tightening safety protocols amid heightened scrutiny.
Air India rolls out all‑pilot drug testing after flight scare
Air India pilots are now getting tested for banned substances 100% of the time, the airline says. This comes right after a Phuket‑to‑Delhi flight lost 91 metres (about 300 feet) of altitude shortly after take‑off.
A preliminary report says the senior pilot was re‑tested after showing a positive result for marijuana. Both pilots involved have been grounded while investigators work to find the cause.
The airline’s new chief executive—former Ethiopian Airlines boss Tewolde Gebremariam—has made safety the top priority, declaring the tests “beyond regulatory requirements” to protect passengers and stakeholders.
Under current rules, only 10% of pilots are randomly tested. Air India will now test every pilot and staff at its academy and briefing centers, adding a new layer of safety checks.
The company’s move arrives after a June 12, 2025, crash of an Air India Boeing 787 from Ahmedabad to London that killed 241 on board. The push for tighter safety oversight may change how you feel about your next flight.
Stay tuned for more updates on how airlines are working to keep skies safer.
