Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG) will strengthen its framework for ensuring the fitness for duty of flight crew at its airlines and expand drug testing.
As the first phase, drug testing has begun for all 1,260 Malaysia Airlines pilots and is scheduled to be completed by August 15. Pilots who do not undergo testing by the deadline will not be permitted to fly until they are deemed fit in accordance with the company’s procedures and regulatory requirements. In addition to existing random testing, drug testing will be made mandatory for all active pilots. The program will later be extended to active cabin crew.
The measures follow an incident in which a Malaysia Airlines first officer was detained in Indonesia on suspicion of smuggling drugs. The first officer had been removed from duty two days before the incident, and the aircraft was operated by two qualified pilots. MAG explained that although the individual was seated in the cockpit jump seat as an observer, they were not operating the aircraft.
Izham Ismail, Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of MAG, said: “Operational safety and crew fitness for duty are non-negotiable at MAG. We take any breach of safety standards seriously and have swiftly strengthened drug testing for active pilots. While this isolated incident does not reflect the professionalism of the vast majority of our employees, we will continue to enhance our safety measures to maintain the trust of our passengers and stakeholders.”
The existing fitness-for-duty framework includes pre-employment screening, Class 1 medical certificates for pilots, recurrent training, regular alcohol and drug testing, and pre-flight checks to verify licenses, medical certificates, training, and recent flight experience. In addition, before the departure of every flight, the pilots operating the aircraft assess each other’s physical and mental fitness for duty.
MAG also provides employee wellness support through its Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and the confidential, peer-led Malaysia Aviation Group Peer Support (MAPS) program.
