Air India will now test all pilots for bans substances and prohibited medications as a precautionary step after a recent incident.
The move follows a flight from Phuket to Delhi that, shortly after take‑off, lost about 91 metres (300 feet) of altitude. A preliminary report indicated that the senior pilot had to retake a substance test and subsequently tested positive for marijuana.
Pilots from the airline’s budget arm, Air India Express, will also be subject to tests starting Thursday. Existing rules already require a 10% random sampling of pilots, but the new approach embraces a company‑wide initiative to surpass regulatory requirements.
In the recent incident, seventeen passengers and crew members were injured. The aircraft’s losing altitude soon after departure prompted an investigation involving Indian authorities, Airbus, and France’s aviation safety agency. Both pilots involved have been removed from duties under the investigation.
The airline’s memo, publicly released, states that “going further” in testing reflects its determination to uphold the highest standards of safety and professionalism, reassuring passengers, stakeholders and the wider community.
Air India has faced heightened scrutiny following a 12 June 2025 crash of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner from Ahmedabad to London, which claimed 241 lives. The company has pledged to strengthen oversight and safety culture.
The comprehensive testing will be carried out at Air India’s academy and other briefing centres. The airline also announced a new chief executive, former Ethiopian Airlines boss Tewolde Gebremariam, who has expressed a commitment to stabilising both safety and financial matters.
