India DGCA reviews Air India pilot after marijuana test

India’s aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), is reviewing an Air India captain’s case after a confirmatory drug test returned positive for marijuana, sources said. The review is unfolding alongside scrutiny of a Phuket–Delhi flight that was reported to have experienced a sudden loss of altitude, keeping attention on both the incident inquiry and how crew fitness requirements are applied.

Under India’s civil aviation safety system, the DGCA oversees pilot fitness standards, including controls linked to substance use. Airlines may run internal disciplinary proceedings, but any decision affecting a pilot’s licence ultimately sits with the regulator, according to the report.

DGCA oversight and Air India’s internal discipline Sources DGCA oversight and Air India’s internal discipline Sources cited in the repoSources said the captain’s Sources cited in the repoSources said the captain’s confirmatory result was positive for marijuana. The report also described a framework in which a first offence can result in counselling or a referral to a de-addiction centre, while tougher outcomes may follow if a matter is assessed as severe. The regulator is weighing what comes next, with one open question being whether the captain’s flying privileges are suspended or revoked. Another unresolved issue is whether the DGCA treats the matter purely as an individual case or uses it to reinforce broader compliance expectations for carriers. Possible licensing outcomes and wider compliance signals The repoSources said that, in high-visibility cases involving a flag carrier, licensing action can draw attention beyond the airline itself. It also noted that airlines across Asia compete for cockpit talent, and that regulators in the region have tightened oversight following safety incidents.

Sources said that if the DGCA takes a Sources said that if the DGCA takes a tougher-than-standard approach, carriers could face pressure to widen the frequency and scope of random testing, strengthen mental-health and rehabilitation pathways, and improve compliance documentation. Any such shift would extend beyond one pilot’s case and could shape how operators prepare for oversight and audits.

Air India operates an expanding international network connecting South and Southeast Asia with Europe and North America, the repoSources said. It added that any DGCA move that goes beyond individual discipline could affect operational planning, crew rostering, and audit expectations for Indian operators flying into neighbouring hubs.

Directorate General

Timeline, open questions, and what remains unclear The report flagged 2024-08-31 as a date by which observers should watch for a public DGCA decision on whether the captain’s flying privileges are suspended or revoked, and whether any wider directive is issued to airlines on drug-testing procedures.

Under the scenario described, a tougher regulatory path would involve a suspension or revocation paired with industry-wide guidance. A more limited outcome would align with counselling or rehabilitation for a first offence, without broader regulatory changes, the repoSources said.