Following an incident involving a sudden altitude drop on an Air India flight last month, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) mandated that all Indian airlines conduct a one-time drug test for psychoactive substances on their pilots by July of next year. This decision came after the flight captain tested positive for drug use. Sources indicate that the directive to airlines was issued in August, and testing has already commenced.
Indian airlines are estimated to employ approximately 14,000 pilots. The incident, which occurred on a flight from Phuket to Delhi, prompted the Air India group to initiate voluntary random drug testing for its 5,000 pilots prior to the DGCA’s blanket requirement for all airlines.
Additionally, Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu has stated that the DGCA is likely to introduce a draft of new, more rigorous testing regulations by the end of the month. Naidu mentioned that the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) recommended annual drug testing for all pilots, a significant change from the current policy that mandates only 10% of pilots to be randomly tested each year.
Sources report that while the DGCA was already planning to update regulations concerning drug testing for aviation staff, the incident involving Air India heightened the urgency for stricter protocols and more severe penalties for confirmed cases of drug abuse. As a result, the regulator decided to implement a one-time drug test for all pilots over the next year.
On August 4, an Air India Airbus A320, designated VT-EXO, experienced a sudden drop of 300 feet in altitude during its route from Phuket to Delhi, resulting in injuries to 20 passengers and four cabin crew members, with 17 individuals requiring hospitalization. The aircraft was carrying 137 passengers, six crew members, and two pilots. The preliminary investigation report from the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) cited a brief triple hydraulic failure and the pilot-in-command’s non-negative drug test result as points of concern.
The AAIB recommended that the DGCA take necessary actions to avert the misuse of psychoactive substances, although it did not confirm a direct link between the pilot’s drug use and the incident. The AAIB noted, “In this case, it has been observed that the PIC was found non-negative for psycho-active substances in the confirmatory test. The confirmation of use of psycho-active substance is a serious concern and AAIB recommends appropriate actions by DGCA on priority.”
The investigation into the incident, classified as an accident by the AAIB, is ongoing. Shortly after the AAIB’s preliminary report was released on September 4, Air India terminated the pilot’s employment.
Under the current DGCA Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR) for testing psychoactive substances, which came into effect on January 31, 2022, pilots and air traffic controllers are prioritized, with a mandatory annual random testing of 10% of these personnel. The regulations also apply to other safety-sensitive aviation roles, including maintenance engineers and instructors, who must be tested upon hiring or following specific incidents.
According to the DGCA CAR, urine samples collected for testing are divided into two containers. The testing process begins with an initial screening of the first container’s sample. If this screening yields a ‘non-negative’ result, indicating the potential presence of psychoactive substances, the pilot is immediately suspended from flying duties until a confirmatory test is conducted.
The second sample is sent for confirmatory testing at a specialized laboratory utilizing advanced instrumentation. Confirmatory tests are essential because initial screenings can produce false positives due to various medications and foods, as well as technical errors.
If the confirmatory test is positive, the medical officer for the organization must consult a medical review officer (MRO) to ascertain whether the positive result is attributable to legitimate medical use or other benign sources, rather than drug abuse. For example, pain relief medications containing codeine could lead to a positive result for opiates. Should the MRO verify a legitimate case of drug use, a tiered disciplinary process is initiated.
In the event of a first positive drug test, the employee is referred to a specialist for evaluation and rehabilitation. To resume active duties, the employee must pass a subsequent drug test and obtain a fitness certificate from the organization’s medical officer.
If an employee returns to work after a first positive result and tests positive again, their license is suspended for three years. A third positive result results in outright cancellation of their license.
Sukalp Sharma, a Deputy Associate Editor at The Indian Express, covers a variety of topics including energy and aviation. With over 16 years of journalism experience, he has reported on politics, development, financial markets, corporate affairs, trade, and economic policy. He also enjoys photography, which complements his passion for travel.
