DGCA Orders One-Time Drug Testing of All Airline Pilots
What Happened
India's aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has directed airlines to conduct a one-time drug test for all pilots by July 2027. The move follows an Air India incident in which the pilot of a Phuket-Delhi flight tested positive for a psychoactive substance after the aircraft experienced a rare hydraulic-system failure and altitude loss. The regulator is also working on stricter drug-testing rules for pilots.
Key Takeaways
The order marks a major tightening of aviation safety oversight. It expands testing beyond the current system of random checks and aims to strengthen safeguards against substance abuse among flight crew. The move comes after investigators described the Air India pilot's drug test result as a "serious concern.