GUWAHATI: Two Air India pilots have tested non-negative for psychoactive substances during an expanded drug screening programme covering around 350 pilots, according to reports.
The two pilots have been taken off the flying roster pending confirmatory test reports, as required under aviation norms. A confirmatory test is mandatory after a non-negative preliminary screening, as initial tests can sometimes return false positives due to medicines, food items or technical errors.
A non-negative result indicates that the initial screening detected a substance or chemical marker requiring further analysis. It does not confirm that a pilot consumed a prohibited substance. The confirmatory test will determine whether the preliminary result is a true positive.
The expanded screening programme was launched after an August 4 incident involving Air India flight AI2379, which was flying from Phuket to Delhi. The Airbus A320 reportedly lost around 300 feet of altitude during cruise before stabilising and landing safely in Delhi. Several passengers and crew members were injured in the incident.
Both pilots underwent mandatory psychoactive substance screening following the incident. While the co-pilot's test did not raise concerns, the initial screening of the pilot-in-command returned a result requiring further analysis. Both pilots were subsequently removed from the flying roster pending the test and investigation.
The pilot-in-command later tested positive for marijuana in the confirmatory test, according to reports. The development prompted increased scrutiny of substance testing among flight crew and led to the expansion of screening across the Air India group.
More than 300 Air India pilots have undergone the screening process so far. Reports said final drug test results generally take around 24 to 48 hours.