{"id":11913,"date":"2026-08-13T10:31:55","date_gmt":"2026-08-13T10:31:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/?p=11913"},"modified":"2026-08-13T10:31:55","modified_gmt":"2026-08-13T10:31:55","slug":"air-india-group-starts-mandatory-substance-screening-for-all-pilots-from-today","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/?p=11913","title":{"rendered":"Air India group starts mandatory substance screening for all pilots from today"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"e9jwa\">\n<div class=\"vdo_embedd\">\n<div class=\"GfdvZ\">\n<section class=\"_bIDB  clearfix id-r-component leadmedia undefined undefined  E9tg9 \" style=\"top:0px\">\n<div class=\"_bIDB\" data-ua-type=\"1\" onclick=\"stpPgtnAndPrvntDefault(event)\">\n<div class=\"ypVvZ\">\n<div class=\"WGttI\"><img src=\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/thumb\/msid-133207963,imgsize-57036,width-400,height-225,resizemode-4\/air-india-mandates-checking.jpg\" alt=\"Air India group starts mandatory substance screening for all pilots from today\" decoding=\"async\" fetchpriority=\"high\"\/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>NEW DELHI: Air India group has from Thursday started &#8216;mandatory substance screening&#8217; for all pilots following the Phuket-Delhi flight serious incident. The move comes to \u201cprotect and sustain\u201d the trust AI had earned over the decades that has been shaken by the pilot-in-command of the Phuket flight testing positive for marijuana.<!-- --> Aviation secretary Samir Sinha had in clear terms asked AI to \u201ctake responsibility\u201d and do whatever it takes to ensure safety.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"3\"\/>AI senior VP (flight operations) captain Manish Uppal wrote to all pilots on Thursday: \u201cFor decades, Air India has been the flag bearer of Indian aviation. Over this time the professionalism, skill and commitment to safety of our pilots, together with other staff, has earned the trust of millions of passengers and the wider community. <!-- -->This trust is our most important asset, and it is vital that we do all possible to protect and sustain it.<!-- --> Many of you have recently reached out to share the same sentiment.\u201d<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"9\"\/>\u201cAs you know, Air India already fully complies with all regulatory requirements prescribed by India&#8217;s DGCA, which are similar to those practiced in other major aviation jurisdictions including Europe and the US. We nevertheless now feel it is important to go further. <\/p>\n<div class=\"LEzX4\">\n<div class=\"PmOGb\">\n<p class=\"PSf84\">Share your thoughts in the comments<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><button type=\"button\" class=\"sUTYm \">Insightful<\/button><button type=\"button\" class=\"sUTYm \">Agree<\/button><button type=\"button\" class=\"sUTYm \">Disagree<\/button><button type=\"button\" class=\"sUTYm \">Skeptical<\/button><button type=\"button\" class=\"sUTYm \">Concerning<\/button><button type=\"button\" class=\"sUTYm \">Promising<\/button><button type=\"button\" class=\"sUTYm \">Worth Reading<\/button><button type=\"button\" class=\"sUTYm \">Big Development<\/button><\/p>\n<p><textarea class=\"T9MbS\" rows=\"1\" placeholder=\"Add your Thoughts...\"\/><button type=\"button\" class=\"ZW6JD \" disabled=\"\">Post Comment<\/button><\/p>\n<p class=\"swnca\">Be respectful \u00b7 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.indiatimes.com\/termsandcondition\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" class=\"gkv0P\">TOI community guidelines<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Accordingly we have decided to undertake a full screening of all group pilots for any substances or medications that are not permitted under prevailing regulations.<!-- --> This testing is mandatory and will start today, 13 August 2026.\u201d<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"15\"\/>\u201cIt will be conducted concurrently with training at the Gurugram Academy, post flight at our Flight Briefing Centres \/ Air India Offices, or at locations provided by your respective bases. This initiative, which goes beyond regulatory requirements, reflects our determination to uphold the highest standards of safety and professionalism, and to provide reassurance to our passengers, stakeholders and the community at large.<!-- --> Thank you for your continued professionalism, dedication and commitment to maintaining the trust placed in Air India. Should you require any clarification, contact your Chief Pilot and\/or Base Manager,\u201d it says.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"18\"\/><\/p>\n<div data-type=\"in_view\" class=\"  \">\n<div class=\"sQLTU timeline_pollWrapper_as  \" data-scrollga=\"scroll#poll_view\">\n<div>\n<p>Do you support mandatory substance screening for pilots in aviation?<\/p>\n<div class=\"iN00Z\">\n<div class=\"eG6Oq\" aria-live=\"polite\">\n<div class=\"W30C0\">\n<p>3k+ users shared opinion today<!-- --> <span class=\"vIYbn\"\/><\/p>\n<p>5k+ users already voted today<!-- --> <span class=\"vIYbn\"\/><\/p>\n<p>3k+ users shared opinion today<!-- --> <span class=\"vIYbn\"\/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/timesofindia.indiatimes.com\/polls\/do-you-support-mandatory-substance-screening-for-pilots-in-aviation\/pollopinions\/133208314.cms?src=articleshow\" class=\"pd_MH\" commonstate=\"[object Object]\" frmappuse=\"1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Share Opinion<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/timesofindia.indiatimes.com\/india\/air-india-group-starts-mandatory-substance-screening-for-all-pilots-from-toda\/articleshow\/133207915.cms\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>NEW DELHI: Air India group has from Thursday started &#8216;mandatory substance screening&#8217; for all pilots following the Phuket-Delhi flight serious incident. The move comes to \u201cprotect and sustain\u201d the trust AI had earned over the decades that has been shaken by the pilot-in-command of the Phuket flight testing positive for marijuana. Aviation secretary Samir Sinha [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":11914,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[31],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-11913","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-31"],"magazineBlocksPostFeaturedMedia":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/air-india-mandates-checking.jpg","medium":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/air-india-mandates-checking.jpg","medium_large":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/air-india-mandates-checking.jpg","large":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/air-india-mandates-checking.jpg","1536x1536":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/air-india-mandates-checking.jpg","2048x2048":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/air-india-mandates-checking.jpg","blogsy-small":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/air-india-mandates-checking.jpg","blogsy-small-tall":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/air-india-mandates-checking.jpg","blogsy-small-square":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/air-india-mandates-checking.jpg","blogsy-small-masonry":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/air-india-mandates-checking.jpg","blogsy-medium":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/air-india-mandates-checking.jpg","blogsy-medium-masonry":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/air-india-mandates-checking.jpg","blogsy-large":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/air-india-mandates-checking.jpg","blogsy-wide":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/air-india-mandates-checking.jpg"},"magazineBlocksPostAuthor":{"name":"admin","avatar":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8709732a479614e7a8aa24d3eb1b239f30dc6d90c61464ed495001e7a469d856?s=96&d=mm&r=g"},"magazineBlocksPostCommentsNumber":"0","magazineBlocksPostExcerpt":"NEW DELHI: Air India group has from Thursday started &#8216;mandatory substance screening&#8217; for all pilots following the Phuket-Delhi flight serious incident. The move comes to \u201cprotect and sustain\u201d the trust AI had earned over the decades that has been shaken by the pilot-in-command of the Phuket flight testing positive for marijuana. Aviation secretary Samir Sinha [&hellip;]","magazineBlocksPostCategories":["\u0b26\u0b47\u0b36 \u0b2c\u0b3f\u0b26\u0b47\u0b36"],"magazineBlocksPostViewCount":1,"magazineBlocksPostReadTime":2,"magazine_blocks_featured_image_url":{"full":["https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/air-india-mandates-checking.jpg",400,225,false],"medium":["https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/air-india-mandates-checking.jpg",300,169,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/air-india-mandates-checking.jpg",150,84,false]},"magazine_blocks_author":{"display_name":"admin","author_link":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/author\/admin"},"magazine_blocks_comment":0,"magazine_blocks_author_image":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8709732a479614e7a8aa24d3eb1b239f30dc6d90c61464ed495001e7a469d856?s=96&d=mm&r=g","magazine_blocks_category":"<a href=\"#\" class=\"category-link category-link-31\">\u0b26\u0b47\u0b36 \u0b2c\u0b3f\u0b26\u0b47\u0b36<\/a>","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11913","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=11913"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11913\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/11914"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=11913"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=11913"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=11913"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}