A Malaysia Airlines pilot was arrested in Indonesia with 57 pounds of illicit drugs and tested positive for multiple substances
The pilot was reportedly supposed to be paid $12,200 to smuggle ecstasy and methamphetamine to Indonesia
Now, Malaysia Airlines is implementing mandatory drug screenings for all pilots, which is expected to be completed by Aug. 15
Malaysia Airlines is promising "enhanced drug screening measures" for its pilots after a second officer was caught smuggling 57 pounds of illicit substances on a flight to Indonesia.
On July 28, a Malaysia Airlines pilot was arrested in the baggage inspection area at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang, Indonesia. A video shared Monday by the country's Directorate General of Customs and Excise shows the man retrieving his luggage from the carousel before passing through a controlled customs checkpoint. There, officers say they searched his bag and found multiple illicit substances.
Authorities reportedly seized 70,114 ecstasy pills weighing about 26 kilograms (57 pounds) as well as 4 grams of methamphetamine. "Officers also seized a small bottle of urine, suspected of being prepared to falsify urine test results if required during the investigation," the post says.
The pilot was later determined to be a 39-year-old Malaysian national, identified only by his initials, MS. According to a release from the Indonesian National Police (INP), MS was promised a payment of 50,000 Malaysian Ringgit ($12,200) to transport the substances to Jakarta. He was reportedly instructed to check into a local hotel before a scheduled handoff.
Further investigation revealed the pilot tested positive for drugs shortly after his arrest.
"The pilot tested positive for MDMA, ecstasy, methamphetamine and cocaine is his urine test. This means he likely used drugs while flying to Indonesia," Hengky Tomuan Parlindungan Aritonang, head of the Soekarno-Hatta Airport Customs and Excise, said during a press conference last Friday, per INP.
However, Malaysia Airlines claims the pilot was not operating the aircraft. A press release shared with PEOPLE says the second officer was "traveling in the cockpit jump seat as an observer and was not the pilot flying the aircraft." They added that MS had also been off duty for two days prior to his arrest. Instead, the plane, carrying 170 passengers, was safely flown by "two qualified operating pilots."
Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG) "views the actions of the individual as completely unacceptable and contrary to the professional standard expected of its personnel," the release says. In response, the company has commenced "mandatory drug screening for all Malaysia Airlines pilots." MAG says it will screen all pilots across its airlines, beginning with 1,260 Malaysia Airlines pilots. MAG expects to have the screening completed by Aug. 15.
"Pilots who do not complete the screening by the stipulated date will not operate flights until they have been cleared in accordance with MAG's procedures and regulatory requirements," the press release says.
MAG President and CEO Capt. Nasaruddin A. Bakar said: "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."
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Investigators later determined the pilot had previously been involved in prior drug smuggling assignments. According to INP, MS had previously transported methamphetamine to Sabah, Malaysia, and another 7-kilogram package (15 pounds) of methamphetamine to Jakarta on a previous trip.
PEOPLE has reached out to Malaysia Airlines inquiring when the carrier became aware of the prior assignments.
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