New Delhi, Aug 22 (TIWN) The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has penalised an air traffic controller (ATC) at the Delhi Airport after he tested positive for a psychoactive substance.

This is the first instance in the country of an Air Traffic Controller (ATC) testing positive for a psychoactive substance after the rules for testing of flight crew and ATCs for psychoactive substances came into force in January 2022, they said.  The sources said that an ATC posted at the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) here was subjected to the drug test.  The person was found positive in the confirmatory test report received on August 18 and he has been removed from the ATC duty, the sources told PTI. 

The Civil Aviation Requirement (CAR) detailing the procedure for examination of the aviation personnel for consumption of psychoactive substances came into effect from January 31. The test is done for the flight crew and ATCs on a random basis.