Amritsar (Gurpreet Singh): Air India Express has suspended eight members of the crew of a Dubai-Amritsar flight for three months after they reportedly failed to complete a mandatory post-flight declaration within the prescribed time limit, sources said.
The incident took place on August 2, 2026, following the arrival of an Air India Express flight from Dubai at Amritsar.
Under the airline’s prescribed procedures, crew members are required to complete a post-flight declaration within two hours of landing. However, the eight-member crew reportedly submitted the declaration 35 minutes beyond the stipulated deadline.
According to sources, the declaration was eventually completed two hours and 35 minutes after the aircraft landed.
The delay prompted the airline to initiate the procedure applicable to such cases. As part of the airline’s mandatory requirements concerning the use of psychoactive substances, all eight crew members underwent testing.
The test results, sources said, were negative.
Despite the negative results, the airline treated the delayed declaration as a violation of its prescribed operational requirements and decided to impose a three-month suspension on all eight crew members.
The matter was also reported to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), sources said.
Tests Conducted After Delay
The testing of the crew was carried out under Air India Express’ mandatory framework for monitoring psychoactive-substance use among flight crew members.
Sources said the results did not indicate the presence of any prohibited psychoactive substance in any of the crew members who were tested.
The negative reports nevertheless did not remove the procedural issue arising from the late submission of the post-flight declaration.
The action against the crew was therefore linked to the reported delay in completing the mandatory requirement rather than a positive test result.
DGCA Informed
The entire matter was subsequently brought to the notice of the aviation regulator, the DGCA.
The regulator oversees compliance with safety and operational requirements applicable to airlines and their personnel. Crew-related testing and reporting requirements form part of the broader aviation safety framework designed to ensure that personnel operating flights are fit to perform their duties.
In this case, the airline’s decision to suspend the eight crew members for three months followed the internal handling of the incident, according to sources.
The development comes at a time when airlines and aviation regulators continue to place considerable emphasis on strict adherence to crew reporting, medical and safety-related procedures.
No Positive Substance Test Reported
Importantly, the crew members’ tests reportedly returned negative results.
The episode, therefore, does not involve an allegation that any of the eight crew members operated the flight while under the influence of a psychoactive substance.
Instead, the issue concerns compliance with the prescribed timeline for the post-flight declaration.
The distinction is significant because mandatory aviation procedures are designed not only to detect potential safety violations but also to ensure that required declarations and checks are completed within specified timeframes.
The airline’s three-month suspension reflects the action taken over the reported procedural lapse, sources said.
Further details about the individual crew members or the precise circumstances behind the 35-minute delay were not immediately available.
