The person was found positive in the confirmation test report received on 18 August.
New Delhi:
An air traffic controller at the Delhi airport tested positive for a psychoactive substance and was removed from duty by aviation regulator DGCA, sources said on Sunday.
This is the first instance of an air traffic controller (ATC) testing positive for a psychoactive substance since the country came into force in January 2022 to test flight crew and ATC for psychoactive substances, he said.
An ATC posted at the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) here was drug tested, sources said.
Sources told PTI that in the confirmation test report received on August 18, the man was found positive and he has been removed from ATCO duty.
The Civil Aviation Requirement (CAR), detailing the procedure for screening aviation personnel for the consumption of psychoactive substances, came into force from January 31. Testing is done on a random basis for the flight crew and ATC.
Sources said that ever since the rules were implemented, three pilots of different airlines have been found positive after confirmatory test and are being dealt with as per the provisions of DGCA rules.
As per the CAR, if the confirmatory drug test result is positive for the first time, the concerned personnel will be sent to the de-addiction center by the concerned organization for de-addiction and rehabilitation.
If the same worker tests positive for the second time, his license will be suspended for a period of three years. And if there is a violation for the third time, the license of the special personnel will be revoked.
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