Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG) has confirmed that all Malaysia Airlines pilots who underwent mandatory drug screening tested negative, with 100 per cent of the airline’s pilots completing the tests as of August 15.
MAG Group managing director Datuk Captain Nasaruddin A. Bakar said the company had completed the mandatory screening within the August 15 deadline announced earlier, as part of efforts to strengthen safety and fitness-for-duty standards across its operations.
“Completing this first phase marks an important milestone in the measures established by the group, but the efforts will continue.
“Safety remains at the heart of every decision we make, and we will continue implementing the necessary measures to strengthen safeguards, uphold operational standards and maintain the confidence of our passengers and stakeholders,” he said in a statement today.
MAG will now move into the next phase by screening 2,840 Malaysia Airlines cabin crew, with the tests scheduled to begin on August 18 and carried out in stages. The programme is targeted for completion by September 3.
Drug screening will also be conducted among pilots and cabin crew members of MAG’s subsidiary airline, Firefly.
As of August 15, more than half of Firefly’s 158 pilots and 163 cabin crew members had undergone screening, with all results received so far returning negative.
Firefly is expected to complete screening of its remaining pilots and cabin crew by August 25, ahead of the September 5 deadline set by the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM).
MAG said the enhanced screening programme forms part of its ongoing efforts to prevent and eliminate substance abuse within the organisation.
“The group will continue with an ongoing random testing programme as part of our efforts to prevent and eliminate substance abuse within the organisation,” the statement said.
The strengthened measures complement MAG’s existing fitness-for-duty framework, which includes pre-employment screening, medical examinations, regular training, periodic alcohol and drug testing, mandatory pre-flight compliance checks and crew fitness assessments.
MAG reiterated its commitment to maintaining strict safety and professional standards across its airlines while strengthening preventive measures to protect the wellbeing of employees, passengers and its operations.
