Air India will screen all its pilots for prohibited substances and medications starting August 13, a move the airline said goes beyond the safety regulations set by India's aviation regulator, the DGCA. The decision follows an incident in which the captain of a turbulent Phuket-Delhi flight was found to be under the influence of drugs.
The testing will be carried out alongside pilot training at Air India's Gurgaon Academy, or after flights at airports and other locations designated by the airline's bases.
The airline's move comes after the Phuket-Delhi flight experienced severe turbulence, during which the aircraft logged nine warnings in a single minute. Those alerts included low hydraulic fluid levels in the Yellow and Blue systems, an autopilot disconnect, and an elevator flight-control fault.
Air India said it is committed to upholding the highest standards of safety and professionalism, and that the expanded screening program goes beyond the requirements prescribed by the DGCA.