Eight Air India Express crew members, including four pilots, were suspended for three months after they failed to show up for the mandatory post‑flight breath‑analyser test on August 2, 2026. The flight was a UAE‑to‑Amritsar route that landed at 05:30 local time. Air India Express flagged the lapse to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation immediately. The crew were expected to report within two hours of arrival, per DGCA rules.
Air India Express conducted blood and urine tests on all eight crew members to verify if the delay was intentional. The results came back negative, showing no traces of alcohol or illicit substances. Despite the clear test outcomes, the airline still suspended the crew pending further investigation. The suspension will remain in force until the DGCA lifts it.
DGCA has tightened oversight after a pilot on an Air India Phuket‑Delhi flight tested positive for a psychoactive substance following a hydraulic system failure. In response, DGCA mandated a one‑time drug screening of every pilot flying in India from August 2026 to July 31, 2027. The screening will cover all airlines to pre‑empt the upcoming Civil Aviation Requirements revisions.
The earlier incident involved an Airbus A320 that lost pressure in all three hydraulic systems, causing an autopilot disengagement and a sudden altitude drop. The event injured 24 people, including passengers and crew. The pilot's positive drug test raised alarms about in‑flight safety protocols across the industry.
Air India Express has pledged full cooperation with DGCA investigations and will review its internal compliance procedures. Passengers on the impacted flights have been offered rebooking options. The airline's next step is to await DGCA's final decision on licence reinstatement.