Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 11:31am on 13 Aug 2026,Thursday India
Air India will screen all its pilots for substance abuse before departures after the captain of a Phuket-Delhi flight tested positive for marijuana. The airline said mandatory testing will begin on August 13 and will cover substances or medications not permitted under regulations. The decision follows an August 4 incident in which flight AI2379 suddenly lost about 300 feet during cruise, leaving 24 people injured. Air India initially attributed the incident to turbulence, but the pilot later tested positive in a confirmatory drug test. Both pilots had undergone post-flight screening. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau is investigating the incident, while DGCA will decide regulatory action. (PC: HT)
