Goa, Sept. 13 -- Following a dramatic mid-air incident on an Air India flight from Phuket to Delhi where a brief hydraulic failure caused a sudden 300-foot drop, aviation safety has come under intense scrutiny. While technical glitches happen, post-incident protocols revealed a "non-negative" psychoactive substance test for the flight's captain. Although investigators have not linked the drug test result to the technical failure, India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is taking zero chances. The regulator has mandated a comprehensive one-time drug screening for nearly 14,000 pilots across the nation by July 2027, pushing aviation safety protocols into a stricter era.

How DGCA Makes Sure High-Flying Pilots Don't Fly High

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