DGCA orders drug tests for pilots across airlines after Phuket flight scare

The DGCA has told all airlines to conduct drug tests for pilots, with the exercise to be completed by July 2027. The move follows the Air India Phuket-Delhi incident and fresh scrutiny of psychoactive substance use in aviation safety.The proposed changes come amid increased scrutiny of drug use in aviation following the Phuket-Delhi flight incident. (File Photo: PTI)The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has ordered drug testing of pilots across all airlines, with carriers asked to complete the exercise by July 2027, sources said. The move comes a month after the pilot-in-command of an Air India Phuket-Delhi flight tested positive for a psychoactive substance following an incident in which the aircraft lost nearly 300 feet in altitude, leaving 24 people injured.Separately, Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu said on Thursday that the DGCA is expected to finalise by the end of this month a draft of revised norms for testing pilots for psychoactive substances.According to sources, the aviation regulator ordered airlines last month to conduct drug tests for their pilots and complete the exercise by July next year. The move will cover pilots across all airlines. There are more than 12,000 pilots working with various commercial airlines in India.Currently, drug testing is conducted randomly. Under the existing Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR), airlines are required to randomly test 10 per cent of pilots and air traffic controllers, among others, for psychoactive substances every year. Naidu, speaking on the sidelines of a conference in New Delhi on Thursday, said the draft of the revised CAR would be finalised after discussions with stakeholders.NEW RULES AFTER STAKEHOLDER TALKSNaidu said the revised norms for testing pilots for psychoactive substances are expected to be finalised by the end of September. The proposed changes come amid increased scrutiny of drug use in aviation following the Phuket-Delhi flight incident. In August, the Air India Group had also decided to conduct drug tests for all pilots across Air India and Air India Express following the incident.AIR INDIA PILOT TESTED POSITIVEThe Air India flight from Phuket to Delhi was involved in a serious incident on August 4. According to the preliminary report released by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) on September 4, the aircraft was cruising at 36,000 feet when it suffered the near-simultaneous loss of all three hydraulic systems.The failure triggered an autopilot disconnect, a brief stall warning and an altitude upset. The aircraft was carrying 145 people and 24 people were injured.The AAIB report said the pilot-in-command tested non-negative for a psychoactive substance in a confirmatory test conducted after the flight.The investigation agency termed the confirmed use of a psychoactive substance a serious concern and recommended that the DGCA take appropriate action on priority to prevent the abuse of such substances.PILOT'S SERVICES TERMINATEDHours after the AAIB report was released on September 4, Air India confirmed that the pilot-in-command had tested positive for a psychoactive substance.The airline terminated his employment with immediate effect, citing its zero-tolerance approach to violations of safety, fitness and regulatory requirements.The DGCA's latest airline-wide testing exercise and the proposed changes to the testing norms come as the regulator faces renewed focus on screening pilots for psychoactive substance use.- EndsWith PTI inputsPublished By: Priyanka KumariPublished On: Sep 10, 2026 22:08 IST