2 More Air India Pilots Fail Drug Test After Phuket Flight Incident

Two more Air India pilots have reportedly failed preliminary drug tests following the serious Phuket-Delhi flight incident that prompted the airline to expand drug screening among its cockpit crew. The pilots have been temporarily de-rostered while their final test results are awaited.

The development comes after the pilot-in-command of the Phuket-Delhi flight reportedly failed two urine tests conducted after the aircraft landed, with marijuana detected in his system. Following that incident, Air India ordered its pilots to undergo drug testing as part of strengthened operating procedures.

According to the report, more than 300 Air India pilots have undergone the testing process so far. Final drug-test results generally take around 24 to 48 hours, meaning the status of the two newly identified pilots could become clearer after the confirmatory testing is completed.

Two More Air India Pilots Fail Initial Drug Tests

The latest development concerns two Air India pilots who could not clear their preliminary drug tests. Importantly, the final results have not yet been reported, so the preliminary findings should not be treated as a final determination.

The airline has de-rostered the two pilots while the testing process continues. This means they have been temporarily removed from flight duties pending further clarification.

The distinction between an initial screening and a final result is significant. According to the report, final drug-test results can take between 24 and 48 hours. The next stage of testing is therefore expected to determine whether the preliminary findings are confirmed.

Phuket-Delhi Flight Incident Triggered Wider Testing

The expanded testing follows a major incident involving an Air India Airbus A320neo operating on the Phuket-Delhi route.

According to the report, the aircraft experienced a sudden drop of around 300 feet after multiple failures affected its hydraulic systems and flight-control surfaces. The elevators and ailerons reportedly lost control simultaneously for approximately four seconds, while the spoilers were also affected.

The incident was initially reported in the context of turbulence, but subsequent aircraft system data provided additional information about the nature of the event.

Hydraulic systems are crucial to an aircraft’s flight controls. Elevators control the aircraft’s pitch, ailerons help control its roll, and spoilers can reduce lift and increase drag. The reported simultaneous loss of these controls therefore made the incident particularly serious.

Air India Orders Drug Tests for Pilots

Following the incident and the drug-test results involving the pilot-in-command, Air India ordered its pilots to undergo drug screening.

The airline said it already conducted regular drug testing of crew members in accordance with civil aviation regulations and maintained that the broader testing was part of its operating procedures rather than being tied exclusively to one flight incident.

The latest testing drive nevertheless represents an important focus on cockpit safety and crew fitness.

With hundreds of pilots reportedly already tested, the process is expected to provide authorities and the airline with a clearer picture of compliance among flight crew.

What Happened to the Phuket-Delhi Flight?

The Phuket-Delhi flight involved an Airbus A320neo. During the flight, the aircraft reportedly dropped approximately 300 feet after experiencing simultaneous problems involving its hydraulic systems and flight-control surfaces.

The aircraft’s elevators and ailerons reportedly drifted without pilot command for several seconds. The spoilers were also affected.

Such systems are fundamental to aircraft control. The elevators help move the aircraft’s nose upward or downward, while the ailerons control movement around the aircraft’s longitudinal axis. Spoilers, meanwhile, can be used to reduce lift and increase drag.

The incident therefore raised questions about both aircraft-system reliability and operational safety, although the drug-testing issue involving crew members is a separate matter that should not automatically be presented as the cause of the aircraft’s technical malfunction.

More Than 300 Air India Pilots Tested So Far

The airline’s testing programme has already expanded considerably. more than 300 Air India pilots had undergone drug testing at the time of its report.

The testing process is expected to continue as the airline seeks to ensure that pilots meet applicable safety and fitness requirements.

For passengers, the testing programme is also significant because pilots play a critical role in maintaining flight safety. Any confirmed violation of aviation rules can potentially lead to regulatory and employment-related consequences, depending on the findings and applicable procedures.

However, the two latest cases remain subject to final testing. Until those results are available, it would be premature to conclude that the preliminary findings represent confirmed violations.

Final Drug Test Results Still Awaited

The immediate next step is the completion of confirmatory testing for the two pilots.

Final results typically take 24 to 48 hours. The pilots have been temporarily removed from the roster while the process is completed.

This approach allows the airline to keep the affected crew members away from flight duties while the test results are being evaluated.

The final findings could determine what action, if any, is taken against the pilots. At this stage, however, there is no reported final confirmation concerning the two latest preliminary results.

Why Drug Testing Matters for Airline Safety

Drug testing is an important component of aviation safety because pilots must remain fit to perform highly demanding duties.

Commercial flight operations require constant attention, rapid decision-making and effective coordination between cockpit crew and other aviation personnel. Any substance that affects alertness, judgment or coordination can create serious safety concerns.

For that reason, aviation regulators and airlines maintain rules governing alcohol, drugs and other substances that could affect a crew member’s ability to perform safety-sensitive duties.

The current Air India testing programme places renewed attention on those requirements following the Phuket-Delhi incident.

What the Latest Development Means for Air India Passengers

For passengers, the most important point is that the two pilots who failed preliminary tests have been temporarily de-rostered while final results are pending.

The testing of more than 300 pilots also indicates that the airline is taking a broader approach rather than limiting checks to a small number of crew members.

At the same time, passengers should distinguish between the aircraft’s technical incident and the separate drug-testing developments. The aircraft’s hydraulic and flight-control problems independently of the testing issue; it does not establish that drug use caused the aircraft malfunction.

What Happens Next?

The immediate focus will be on the final drug-test results of the two pilots.

If preliminary results are not confirmed, the matter could conclude without further action. If the final results confirm prohibited substances, the airline and relevant aviation authorities may need to follow applicable disciplinary and regulatory procedures.

Further information is also likely to emerge regarding the Phuket-Delhi aircraft incident as technical investigations and operational reviews continue.

For now, the key facts are that two more Air India pilots have failed preliminary screening, they have been temporarily removed from flight duties, and their final test results are awaited.

Key Details at a Glance

Detail	Information
Airline	Air India
Latest development	Two more pilots failed preliminary drug tests
Current status	Pilots temporarily de-rostered
Final results	Awaited
Pilots tested	More than 300 reported so far
Reported final-test timeline	Around 24–48 hours
Incident involved	Phuket-Delhi flight
Aircraft	Airbus A320neo
Reported aircraft issue	Multiple hydraulic and flight-control failures
Drug involved in earlier pilot case	Marijuana reportedly detected

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How many more Air India pilots failed the preliminary drug test?

Two additional Air India pilots reportedly failed preliminary drug tests following the Phuket-Delhi flight incident. Their final test results are still awaited.

2. Are the two pilots still flying?

No. According to the report, both pilots have been temporarily de-rostered while their final drug-test results are pending.

3. How many Air India pilots have been tested?

More than 300 Air India pilots had reportedly undergone the drug-testing process when the report was published.

4. Why did Air India order wider drug testing?

The wider testing followed an incident involving a Phuket-Delhi flight and the reported failure of its pilot-in-command to clear two urine tests, in which marijuana was detected.

5. When will the final drug-test results be available?

The report states that final drug-test results usually take around 24 to 48 hours.

6. What type of aircraft was involved in the Phuket-Delhi incident?

The aircraft involved was an Airbus A320neo. The report said it experienced a sudden drop of around 300 feet amid multiple hydraulic-system and flight-control problems.

7. What is the current status of the two pilots?

The two pilots remain temporarily de-rostered while their final drug-test results are awaited. Any further action would depend on the final findings and applicable procedures.

Conclusion

The latest Air India drug-testing development has added another layer to the scrutiny surrounding the Phuket-Delhi flight incident. Two more pilots have reportedly failed preliminary drug tests and have been temporarily removed from flight duties while confirmatory results are awaited.

With more than 300 pilots reportedly tested so far, the airline’s expanded screening programme represents a significant focus on crew fitness and aviation safety. However, the latest preliminary findings should not be treated as final until confirmatory testing is completed.

The situation is expected to become clearer once the final results are released. Meanwhile, the Phuket-Delhi aircraft incident remains an important safety event in its own right, involving reported failures of multiple hydraulic systems and flight-control surfaces.

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