Air India on Thursday mandated drug screening for all its pilots after a controversy surrounding the captain of a Phuket-Delhi flight, who tested positive for marijuana on Wednesday. The fresh testing driver will be set in motion from Thursday, and shall cover pilots attached to both Air India and Air India Express.

The airline issued the directives via a formal communication to the employees, asserting that the move extends beyond existing regulatory requirements and is intended to strengthen safety and professional standards across its operations.

The official directive read, “As you know, Air India already fully complies with all regulatory requirements prescribed by India’s DGCA,” noting that the rules mirror the ones followed in major aviation jurisdictions, including the United States and Europe.

The airline added, “Nevertheless, we now feel that it is important to go further,” announcing a comprehensive screening of all group pilots for substances or medications prohibited under prevailing regulations.

Tests to be carried out at multiple locations

As per the directives issued by the airline, the screening shall be conducted alongside training at its Gurugram-located academy, after flights at Air India’s flight briefing centres and at various offices. Air India said the initiative reflected its determination to maintain the highest safety standards and professionalism while reassuring passengers, stakeholders and the wider community.

Furthermore, it stressed the importance of maintaining the confidence of the public in its pilots and other employees, terming their trust ‘most important asset.’

Phuket-Delhi flight incident sparked a row

The move comes days after an Air India Flight, AI-2379, which was heading to Delhi from Phuket on August 4 suddenly lost 300 feet of altitude over Odisha. The aircraft had been ferrying 137 passengers and eight crew members, of whom, 20 passengers and four crew members sustained injuries.

The pilot in command, identified as Sudeep Vashistha, underwent a medical test and tested positive for marijuana in two drug tests, as per reports. Another incident report indicated that Vashistha was not in the cockpit when the aircraft suffered the sudden loss of altitude, with the co-pilot in command at the time.

Pilot cites difficulties in sleeping

Post-incident, the pilot reportedly went into the cabin to check on injured passengers and allegedly asked them not to film him or the aircraft.

After the flight landed in Delhi, sources revealed Vashistha appeared unsteady on his feet and required assistance to sit down. He was also physically assisted by an investigating officer while providing his urine sample. In Air India’s internal flight safety report, Vashistha reportedly said he had been taking prescribed medication for “sleep difficulty”. He said sleep had been difficult during the layover and that he had attempted to rest before deciding to take a walk.

He also raised concerns about his roster, saying that although his duties fell within prescribed legal rest limits, the scheduling had “compressed available daytime rest”, which he claimed was often insufficient for adequate recovery.