'Two Air India pilots found non-negative in drug test'

New Delhi: Two more Air India pilots have reportedly returned 'non-negative' results in initial drug tests on airline staff conducted after a recent incident involving a flight from Phuket in Thailand to Delhi, said people aware of the development. Confirmatory results are awaited.

The pilots have been taken off flying duties pending final reports, people said. Nearly 400 pilots have undergone screening so far, under Air India's one-time mandatory testing programme covering the airline group's cockpit crew including those of budget unit Air India Express. Between Air India and Air India Express, the airline has more than 5,000 pilots.

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A confirmatory test in case of non-negative result is crucial as a false positive can be triggered by legitimate therapeutic treatment or sources such as pain-relief medication. These tests use high-complexity instrumentation such as spectral analysis of hair samples.

Air India had mandated all pilots and cabin crew to undergo tests for psychoactive substances, starting last Thursday, taking measures beyond the civil aviation regulator's rules, ET reported last week.