India Mulls Random Drug Tests for All Commercial Pilots
· India · The Hindu, Hindustan Times
India's civil aviation ministry is considering mandatory random psychoactive substance tests for all commercial pilots throughout the year, Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu said on August 25, 2026 in New Delhi. Currently, drug tests are conducted on only 10% of pilots on a random basis. The proposal follows an incident where an Air India captain on a Phuket-Delhi flight tested positive for marijuana after the aircraft suffered a sudden altitude loss. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation is consulting with stakeholders to review and strengthen existing drug-testing rules. Aviation authorities are awaiting further laboratory test results from the incident before finalising any policy changes.
Why it matters
The move, if implemented, would significantly tighten safety oversight for all pilots flying Indian airspace and commercial routes. It affects thousands of domestic and international pilots and comes amid growing concerns over substance use in aviation following the Air India incident.
Read the original report — The Hindu
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