KUALA LUMPUR (Aug 7): Malaysia Airlines has started mandatory drug testing following an arrest of a junior pilot in Indonesia.

The first phase of the screening will begin with all 1,260 Malaysia Airlines pilots to be completed by Aug 15, according to a statement from parent Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG). Pilots who do not complete the screening will not operate flights until they have been cleared, the company said.

MAG will also implement mandatory drug screening for all active pilots, complementing its existing random testing programme that will be subsequently expanded to active cabin crew.

Indonesian authorities caught a 39-year-old Malaysian pilot last week at Jakarta's Soekarno-Hatta International Airport carrying more than 70,000 ecstasy pills in his suitcase. The pilot was tested positive for several illegal drugs.

On Friday, MAG clarified that the staff was a second officer 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 before the incident, MAG said, stressing that the aircraft was operated 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,” said MAG president Captain Nasaruddin A Bakar.