DGCA orders drug testing for all airline pilots by July 2027
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AI-generated summary of the coverage listed below: India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation has mandated a one‑time drug screening for every commercial pilot, to be completed by July 31, 2027. The directive follows an August 4 incident in which an Air India pilot flying from Phuket to Delhi lost nearly 300 feet of altitude and was later found to have tested positive for a psychoactive substance. The regulator says the new rule aims to prevent similar safety breaches and protect passengers. QUOTE: "DGCA has ordered one-time drug screening of all airline pilots from August 1, 2026 to July 31, 2027" — Times Now
Covered by 7 outlets across the spectrum: 14% left, 57% center, 29% right.
Who is covering this story
- Left-leaning (1): The Federal
- Center (3): Mint, The New Indian Express, Tribune India
- Right-leaning (2): India Today, Times Now
Sources
- DGCA orders drug test for pilots across airlines; new guidelines expected by Sept-end — The Federal (left-leaning)
- DGCA orders drug tests for pilots across airlines after Phuket flight scare — India Today (right-leaning)
- DGCA to drug test all pilots after Air India Phuket-Delhi flight captain fired for being under the influence on duty — Mint (center)
- DGCA mulls drug testing of all pilots; new guidelines likely by month-end — The New Indian Express (center)
- DGCA orders drug tests for pilots across all airlines — The New Indian Express (center)
- DGCA's Big Dope Test Order: All Airline Pilots To Be Screened — Times Now (right-leaning)
- After Air India scare, DGCA orders drug screening for all pilots — Tribune India (center)