The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has ordered a one-time drug screening of all pilots employed by airlines operating in India, with testing
to be carried out between August 1, 2026 and July 31, 2027, sources told Times Now. The move comes days after the Pilot-in-Command (PIC) of an Air India Phuket-Delhi flight tested positive for a psychoactive substance following a serious in-flight incident. The DGCA's directive is understood to be a preparatory measure ahead of revised regulations governing psychoactive-substance testing among flight crew. Sources said all airline operators have been directed to complete the testing of their pilots within the specified one-year window. The exercise will cover pilots across airlines and is being undertaken as a one-time screening before the revised Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR) are introduced. The development follows the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau's (AAIB) preliminary findings into the August 4 Air India Phuket-Delhi flight incident. The Airbus A320, flying at around 36,000 feet, suffered a brief loss of pressure in all three hydraulic systems, leading to an autopilot disconnect and a sudden altitude change. Twenty-four people, including passengers and crew, were injured. The AAIB report also flagged the PIC's non-negative result for a psychoactive substance in a confirmatory drug test and described substance abuse as a serious safety concern. It recommended that the DGCA take appropriate measures to prevent such abuse among flight crew. Air India has since terminated the employment of the PIC involved in the Phuket-Delhi incident. The airline has also voluntarily started screening all pilots across the Air India group, sources said. This screening is separate from the wider DGCA-directed exercise.
