New Delhi : Air India will conduct mandatory screening of all its pilots for substances and medications prohibited under prevailing regulations, according to an internal communication seen by news agency. The move comes amid heightened scrutiny of pilot fitness at Air India following the August 4 Phuket-Delhi flight incident, in which the aircraft experienced a sudden altitude variation of about 300 feet during cruise.
The aircraft was carrying 137 passengers, including three infants, and eight crew members. Twenty passengers and four cabin crew members were injured in the incident, according to the latest official figures. The Phuket-Delhi incident came under further scrutiny after both pilots underwent mandatory psychoactive-substance screening following the flight.
The positive test has also prompted the government to look at whether India’s existing framework for testing pilots and other flying crew for psychoactive substances needs to be strengthened. The government has asked the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to review the dope-testing framework, including testing protocols followed in other countries, and assess whether India’s existing system needs to be strengthened or reframed, sources in the Ministry of Civil Aviation told India Today.
A second positive test can result in suspension of the person’s licence for three years, while a third violation can lead to cancellation of the licence. The ministry is examining whether the existing regulatory framework is adequate. Any changes to the dope-testing rules will be considered after the DGCA completes its review of international practices, a senior ministry source said.
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