Air India will subject all pilots, including those at Air India Express, to mandatory substance testing after a captain tested positive for marijuana following a serious mid-air incident.

Mandatory Checks Begin

Air India has expanded its substance-testing programme to cover all pilots, going beyond existing regulatory requirements after a pilot involved in a serious mid-air incident tested positive for marijuana.

The airline will begin the mandatory testing programme on Thursday, according to an internal memo reviewed by Reuters. The checks will cover pilots working for both Air India and its budget subsidiary, Air India Express.

The move comes as authorities investigate a sudden altitude loss involving an Air India aircraft earlier this month.

Tests Cover Prohibited Substances

The new checks will screen pilots for substances and medications prohibited under aviation regulations.

According to the internal communication, testing will take place alongside training sessions at Air India's academy in Gurugram. Pilots may also undergo tests after flights at briefing centres, offices or locations designated according to their home bases.

The expanded programme represents a significant increase in the airline's internal monitoring of pilot fitness and compliance.

Air India said in the memo that it had decided to go beyond the existing requirements because of the importance of maintaining safety standards and providing reassurance to passengers and other stakeholders.

Existing Rules Require Random Tests

Under current aviation rules, airlines must randomly test at least 10% of their flight crew each year for psychoactive substances.

Air India's decision to test its entire pilot workforce therefore goes considerably beyond the minimum regulatory requirement.

The airline's internal memo did not indicate that the broader testing programme would replace existing regulatory procedures. Instead, the initiative will operate as an additional layer of monitoring.

Air India had not immediately responded to a Reuters request for comment on the expanded testing programme.

Mid-Air Incident Under Probe

The decision follows an incident on August 4 involving an Air India Airbus A320neo travelling from Phuket to Delhi.

The aircraft suddenly lost around 300 feet, or 91 metres, of altitude, while cruising. The incident prompted an investigation by aviation authorities.

A pilot involved in the flight subsequently tested positive for marijuana, according to information cited in the report.

The circumstances surrounding the positive test and the connection, if any, between the test result and the aircraft's altitude loss remain subject to investigation. A positive test alone does not establish that substance use caused the incident.

Air India Express Included

The expanded programme will also cover pilots employed by Air India Express.

The inclusion of the low-cost subsidiary means the airline group will apply the broader testing approach across its pilot operations rather than limiting it to the main Air India fleet.

The decision comes as the aviation industry faces heightened scrutiny over flight safety, crew fitness and compliance with operating procedures.

For airlines, substance testing forms part of a wider system designed to ensure that pilots are medically and operationally fit to perform safety-critical duties.

Focus on Aviation Safety

Air India's decision places greater emphasis on preventive safety measures within the airline.

Testing for prohibited substances and medications can help airlines identify potential breaches of aviation regulations. It also provides management with an additional mechanism to reinforce safety requirements among flight crews.

The airline's move could attract attention across India's aviation sector, particularly because it goes beyond the minimum random-testing requirement.

The programme also comes at a sensitive time for Air India, with the August 4 incident still under investigation.

Investigation Continues

Authorities will continue examining the circumstances of the Phuket-Delhi flight, including the aircraft's operations and the factors behind the sudden loss of altitude.

The findings of that investigation will be important in determining whether any operational, technical or human factors contributed to the incident.

Air India's expanded testing policy does not by itself establish a cause for the event, but it signals the airline's decision to strengthen internal safety controls following the positive test.

What Happens Next

All Air India pilots will now face mandatory substance testing under the expanded programme, with Air India Express pilots also included.

The airline's decision to widen testing beyond the regulatory minimum is expected to increase scrutiny of crew compliance and reinforce safety procedures across its operations. The Air India pilot drug testing programme will remain closely watched as authorities investigate the August 4 mid-air incident and assess the circumstances surrounding the positive marijuana test.