Overview
- Air India began mandatory psychoactive‑substance screening of all group pilots on August 13 after flight AI2379 lost about 300 feet during cruise on August 4 and injured passengers and crew.
- About 300–400 pilots have been tested so far from the roughly 5,000 in the Air India group and two additional pilots returned non‑negative (preliminary) screening results and were de‑rostered pending laboratory confirmation.
- The pilot‑in‑command of AI2379 previously returned a non‑negative screening and a confirmatory test that detected marijuana, and that result remains part of both the airline’s internal review and the AAIB technical probe.
- Investigators are examining multiple aircraft system alerts recorded during the August 4 event, including hydraulic low‑pressure warnings and an autopilot disconnect, with Airbus and France’s BEA assisting the AAIB inquiry.
- The Federation of Indian Pilots has urged the DGCA to raise annual random testing to about 25% and to pilot oral‑fluid screening, and government sources say the ministry is likely to push for a higher testing threshold in rules under review.