Two Air India pilots fail preliminary drug test

Two Air India Group pilots have tested non-negative in a preliminary psychoactive substance screening, the first such results since the airline began mandatory testing on August 13. Sources told The Hindu BusinessLine that confirmatory results are awaited, and pending those, both pilots have been de-rostered. Around 400 pilots have been tested so far, sources said.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is now likely to require all airlines to conduct similar screenings, according to Times Now. The regulator is working on amendments to the Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR) for doping tests. The move follows an August 4 incident in which an Air India flight from Phuket to Delhi suffered sudden altitude variation, that flight's pilot had earlier returned a screening result needing confirmatory testing.

Sources noted to both outlets that the non-negative results could be linked to medication. The airline said the testing goes beyond existing DGCA regulations and is intended to uphold safety. The final results and any further action will follow a detailed investigation, sources told The Hindu BusinessLine.