Positive drug tests ground Samoa Airways

Apia, SAMOA — The Samoa Observer is reporting scheduled flights for Samoa Airways on Wednesday this week were cancelled following the positive results for illegal substances and alcohol in 10 per cent of tested staff. 

To remedy the issue, Samoa Airways had to charter Talofa Airways costing the airline $30,000 to accommodate passengers traveling to and from American Samoa on the day.  

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for the national carrier, Fauoo Fatu Tielu confirmed three staff tested positive for illicit drugs namely methamphetamine, amphetamine and cannabis. 

Fauo’o could not give a breakdown of the designations of the affected staff but confirmed they were stationed at the airport. 

A single pilot returned a positive result for using a prescribed drug or sleeping pills and had to be grounded while follow-up tests were done to verify the drug type.  

According to the CEO, the results did not take him by surprise noting the drug problem in the country that has spread amongst the community. 

He said he was glad that the airline did the drug testing program. 

A total of 96 staff from the airline underwent testing that was referred to the Scientific Research Organization of Samoa (SROS) with results received in January and late last week. 

“It impacted our flight yesterday and had to cancel all flights,” he said in an interview with the Samoa Observer. 

“One of our pilots tested positive [prescribed drug] and two pilots were on sick leave, another is on annual leave, another didn’t have enough hours to fly so we had to charter Talofa Airways and it cost us $30,000.”

Read more at The Observer