DGCA may mandate random psychoactive substance tests for over 25% flight crew across Indian airlines

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is likely to require Indian airlines to randomly screen more than 25% of their flight crew every year for psychoactive substances, using urine-based tests, top official sources told news agency ANI.

The proposed requirement would apply across Indian carriers and marks a significant tightening of the regulator's existing testing regime, under which at least 10% of applicable personnel are currently required to undergo random urine testing annually.

Also read: Air India undertakes pilot testing programme amidst scrutiny after Phuket incident


The development comes amid heightened scrutiny of flight crew safety and substance-use protocols following the Air India AI-2379 incident involving a Phuket-Delhi flight.

Air India screening all group pilots

The pilot operating AI-2379 has been de-rostered following the incident, in which the aircraft suffered a sudden loss of altitude and passengers were injured, the sources said.

Air India has also begun comprehensive screening of its group pilots for substances and medications prohibited under current aviation regulations. The exercise started on August 13, with the airline submitting the test results to the DGCA for examination, according to the sources.

The regulator is expected to release its preliminary findings on the AI-2379 incident within the next 10 days, they added.

The DGCA's proposed expansion of random testing follows a representation submitted by the Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP), which has called for oral-fluid tests to be added to the existing system as a complementary screening method.

At present, the DGCA framework relies on random urine testing and mandates annual coverage of at least 10% of the relevant personnel. The pilots' federation has sought an increase in the minimum coverage to 25%.

FIP has suggested a hybrid, risk-based approach under which oral-fluid tests could be deployed for large-scale random checks and screenings at airports, while urine tests could continue to be used where a longer detection period or specific medical assessment is required.

Also read: Centre asks Air India to ‘take responsibility’ after Phuket-Delhi flight scare

Pilots' federation seeks safeguards against false impairment claims

The federation has also argued that finding a substance in a test should not automatically be treated as evidence that a pilot was impaired. It has proposed a process involving an initial screening, confirmatory laboratory analysis, medical assessment and a final regulatory decision.

FIP has further recommended a 12-month controlled pilot programme to evaluate the effectiveness of oral-fluid testing before its wider adoption.

Alongside testing reforms, the federation has proposed a mandatory Pilot Psychoactive-Substance and Medication Awareness Programme. The programme would educate pilots about the risks associated with prescription, over-the-counter and herbal medicines, including through a "Check Before You Take" approach.

The recommendations followed the AI-2379 episode, during which the aircraft reportedly dropped around 300 feet over Odisha. The incident left 20 passengers and four cabin crew members injured.

Separately, the DGCA and the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) are examining the reported triple hydraulic failure involving the aircraft.