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Parent company Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG) declared that as an “immediate step,” it had begun the first phase of mandatory drug screening for all pilots across its airlines, starting with Malaysia Airlines.
In a strongly worded statement, the company said that “in addition, the Group will implement mandatory drug screening for all active pilots, complementing its existing random testing program”.
“The program will then subsequently be expanded to active cabin crew,” it added.
MAG stated that it will “conduct stricter screening” set to go “beyond industry practice”.
“Operational safety and crew fitness for duty are non-negotiable at MAG,” Captain Nasaruddin A. Bakar, CEO of MAG, said. “We take any breach of our safety standards seriously and have acted swiftly to enhance mandatory drug screening across our active pilots.”
Indonesian authorities allege that a Malaysia Airlines second officer arrived at Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta International Airport (CGK) with approximately 25 kilograms of ecstasy pills and methamphetamine concealed in their luggage.
Malaysia’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAAM) has opened a regulatory investigation in which it will examine whether all aviation security requirements were fully complied with before the pilot departed Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL).
The airline made it very clear that the pilot was travelling in the cockpit jump seat as an observer and was not the pilot flying the aircraft.
The individual had been off duty for two days preceding the incident and the aircraft was “operated safely at all times by two qualified operating pilots”.
“While this isolated incident does not reflect the professionalism of the overwhelming majority of our employees, we will continue strengthening our safeguards to maintain the confidence of our passengers and stakeholders,” Captain Nasaruddin A. Bakar added.
The company stressed that its “swift response reflects the high level of concern with which MAG views the recent incident” and that it “maintains zero tolerance for any form of misconduct”.
In a strongly worded statement, the company said that “in addition, the Group will implement mandatory drug screening for all active pilots, complementing its existing random testing program”.
“The program will then subsequently be expanded to active cabin crew,” it added.
MAG stated that it will “conduct stricter screening” set to go “beyond industry practice”.
“Operational safety and crew fitness for duty are non-negotiable at MAG,” Captain Nasaruddin A. Bakar, CEO of MAG, said. “We take any breach of our safety standards seriously and have acted swiftly to enhance mandatory drug screening across our active pilots.”
Indonesian authorities allege that a Malaysia Airlines second officer arrived at Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta International Airport (CGK) with approximately 25 kilograms of ecstasy pills and methamphetamine concealed in their luggage.
Malaysia’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAAM) has opened a regulatory investigation in which it will examine whether all aviation security requirements were fully complied with before the pilot departed Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL).
The airline made it very clear that the pilot was travelling in the cockpit jump seat as an observer and was not the pilot flying the aircraft.
The individual had been off duty for two days preceding the incident and the aircraft was “operated safely at all times by two qualified operating pilots”.
“While this isolated incident does not reflect the professionalism of the overwhelming majority of our employees, we will continue strengthening our safeguards to maintain the confidence of our passengers and stakeholders,” Captain Nasaruddin A. Bakar added.
The company stressed that its “swift response reflects the high level of concern with which MAG views the recent incident” and that it “maintains zero tolerance for any form of misconduct”.
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