India

Air India Orders Mandatory Drug Tests for All Pilots After Phuket Flight Incident

Published: 13 August 2026 · 1 min read

What Happened

Air India and Air India Express have made psychoactive substance screening mandatory for all pilots following the August 4 Phuket-Delhi flight incident, in which an Air India aircraft reportedly dropped 300 feet mid-air, injuring passengers and crew. The move comes after the flight's captain tested positive for marijuana in a confirmatory drug test.

Key Takeaways

The Tata Group airlines are going beyond regulatory requirements to strengthen safety oversight and restore passenger confidence.

Sources

New Indian Express, Daily Jagran