The pilot-in-command of Air India flight AI2379, which suffered a sudden loss of around 300 feet in altitude during its Phuket-Delhi journey on August 4, has tested positive for marijuana in a confirmatory laboratory test, according to sources. The incident left 17 passengers and crew members injured.
Both pilots underwent mandatory screening for psychoactive substances after the aircraft landed in Delhi. While the co-pilot’s test did not raise concerns, the initial screening of the pilot-in-command returned a result that required further examination. The sample was subsequently sent to a designated laboratory for confirmation, which has now reportedly returned positive for marijuana.
The development comes as authorities continue investigating the circumstances surrounding the flight’s sudden altitude loss. The aircraft, an Airbus A320, was carrying 137 passengers and eight crew members when the incident occurred during cruise. Thirteen passengers and four crew members were injured and taken for medical evaluation.
Both pilots have been removed from flying duties pending completion of the investigation. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had earlier confirmed that the captain’s initial psychoactive-substance screening was “not negative” and that the sample had been sent for confirmatory testing.
Investigation Into 300-Foot Altitude Loss
The aircraft experienced a sudden change in altitude during the flight from Phuket to Delhi on August 4. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is examining the incident, with the aircraft’s flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder secured for analysis. Airbus and France’s Bureau of Enquiry and Analysis for Civil Aviation Safety (BEA) are also expected to assist with the investigation.
The cause of the altitude loss has not yet been conclusively established. Reports have pointed to possible technical issues, while the investigation is examining the aircraft’s systems and the actions of the flight crew. The pilot’s drug-test result is therefore a separate finding under investigation and should not, at this stage, be presented as the cause of the aircraft’s altitude loss.
Air India had earlier said the post-flight screening was conducted in accordance with applicable procedures but that the test results had not been shared with the airline at that stage.
The latest confirmatory result is expected to be examined by aviation authorities as part of the wider investigation into the serious incident.