Air India to test all pilots for banned substances

What the report says

Air India has said it will begin testing all of its pilots for banned substances immediately, after a recent safety incident involving one of its aircraft. According to BBC World News, the measure also applies to pilots at its low-cost subsidiary, Air India Express, from Thursday.

The move follows an incident last week on a Phuket-to-Delhi flight, when the plane suddenly lost altitude shortly after departure. BBC World News reported that 17 passengers and crew were injured, and that a preliminary investigation indicated the senior pilot had to repeat a substance test, with reports saying that test was positive for marijuana. Both pilots involved have been removed from flying duties while the inquiry continues.

Air India said in an internal memo seen by the BBC that the expanded testing goes beyond current regulatory requirements, under which at least 10% of pilots are checked at random. The airline said the step was meant to reassure passengers, stakeholders and the wider public, and would be carried out alongside training sessions at its academy and other locations.

The development comes as Air India remains under close scrutiny after a June 2025 crash on an Ahmedabad-to-London flight that killed 241 people on board and 19 on the ground. Indian authorities are investigating the latest incident with Airbus and France’s air safety agency, while the airline’s new chief executive has recently taken over.