Air India de-rosters 2 more pilots after failed preliminary drug tests
Synopsis
Air India's drug screening drive — launched after a Phuket-Delhi pilot allegedly tested positive for marijuana and the flight suffered a hydraulic failure mid-air — has now ensnared two more pilots on preliminary results. With over 300 pilots tested and final results still pending, the airline is facing one of its most serious internal safety reckonings since the Tata Group takeover.
Key Takeaways
Two more Air India pilots have been de-rostered after failing preliminary drug tests; final confirmatory results are still awaited.
The screening programme was launched after the pilot-in-command of a Phuket-Delhi flight allegedly failed two urine tests and marijuana was reportedly detected in his system.
The same flight's Airbus A320neo reportedly experienced a sudden descent of approximately 300 feet linked to multiple hydraulic system failures .
More than 300 Air India pilots have undergone testing since mandatory screening began on 13 August .
Final drug test results take between 24 and 48 hours ; the full scope of findings is still emerging.
Two more Air India pilots have been de-rostered after failing preliminary drug tests conducted under the airline's expanded screening programme, introduced in the wake of a serious in-flight incident aboard a Phuket-Delhi service, according to reports. Final confirmatory test results are still awaited, and both pilots remain off duty pending those outcomes.
What Triggered the Expanded Testing
The intensified screening follows an incident involving an Airbus A320neo operating the Phuket-Delhi route, in which the aircraft reportedly experienced a sudden loss of control over key flight control surfaces and descended approximately 300 feet. While initial accounts attributed the event to turbulence, subsequent analysis of aircraft system data reportedly pointed to multiple hydraulic system failures affecting the aircraft's elevators, ailerons, and spoilers — systems critical for controlling pitch, roll, and descent — for several seconds.
The Pilot-in-Command Case
The pilot-in-command of the Phuket-Delhi flight allegedly failed two urine tests conducted after the aircraft landed. Marijuana was reportedly detected in his system. A cabin crew member on the same flight is believed to have lodged a complaint alleging that the pilot had previously smoked marijuana. These developments prompted Air India — owned by the Tata Group — to order drug testing for all pilots under a new standard operating procedure (SOP).
Scale of the Screening Drive
From 13 August, the airline began conducting mandatory screening of all pilots across the group for substances or medications prohibited under aviation regulations, according to a letter addressed to pilots. More than 300 Air India pilots have reportedly undergone the testing process so far. Final drug test results typically take between 24 and 48 hours to be processed, meaning the full picture of the screening drive's findings is still emerging.
What Happens Next
Both newly de-rostered pilots will remain off flight duties until confirmatory results are received. The airline has framed the expanded testing as a measure aimed at reinforcing safety standards and public confidence. Aviation regulators and industry observers will be watching closely as results come in — this is among the most significant internal safety interventions by a major Indian carrier in recent years.
Point of View
But the airline is also managing a reputational crisis in real time: every positive result that leaks before confirmation risks unfair damage to individuals and further erodes passenger confidence. The deeper question is systemic — how robust was pre-existing random drug testing under the Directorate General of Civil Aviation's framework, and why did it not surface these cases earlier? The Tata Group's credibility as a safety-first operator is now directly on the line.
NationPress
17 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why has Air India de-rostered two more pilots?
Two Air India pilots have been de-rostered after failing preliminary drug tests conducted under the airline's expanded screening programme. Final confirmatory results are still awaited, and both pilots remain off duty until those outcomes are known.
What triggered Air India's expanded pilot drug screening?
The screening was triggered by an incident on a Phuket-Delhi flight in which the pilot-in-command allegedly failed two urine tests after landing and marijuana was reportedly detected in his system. A cabin crew member also reportedly filed a complaint alleging the pilot had smoked marijuana prior to the flight.
What happened to the Phuket-Delhi flight that started this investigation?
An Airbus A320neo operating the Phuket-Delhi route reportedly experienced a sudden loss of control over key flight control surfaces and descended approximately 300 feet. Initial accounts cited turbulence, but aircraft system data reportedly pointed to multiple hydraulic system failures affecting the elevators, ailerons, and spoilers.
How many Air India pilots have been tested so far?
More than 300 Air India pilots have reportedly undergone drug screening since mandatory testing began on 13 August. Final results take between 24 and 48 hours, so the complete picture is still emerging.
What substances are being screened for under Air India's new SOP?
Air India's new standard operating procedure mandates screening for substances and medications prohibited under aviation regulations. Marijuana was the substance reportedly detected in the case of the original Phuket-Delhi pilot-in-command.
