Air India Pilot Tests Positive for Marijuana in Second Dope Test After Phuket-Delhi Flight Incident
The confirmatory test has intensified scrutiny of the August 4 incident, in which the aircraft suddenly lost around 300 feet and several passengers and crew members were injured.
Air India is facing fresh questions over flight safety after the pilot-in-command of a Phuket-Delhi flight reportedly tested positive for marijuana in a second, confirmatory dope test.
The development relates to Air India flight AI2379, which encountered a serious mid-air incident on August 4. The Airbus A320 reportedly experienced a sudden loss of around 300 feet in altitude while flying over Odisha, leaving 13 passengers and four crew members injured.
Following the incident, both pilots underwent mandatory psychoactive-substance testing. The captain's initial screening returned a non-negative result, prompting authorities to send the sample to a designated laboratory for confirmatory testing. The second test has now reportedly also returned positive for marijuana, according to sources.
The finding has added another layer to an already serious investigation. Some passengers had earlier raised concerns about the pilot's behaviour and appearance following the incident, although a positive test by itself does not establish that the pilot was impaired at the exact time the aircraft encountered the altitude drop.
The incident has drawn the attention of aviation authorities, with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) examining the matter. Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu has also said that the government is taking the issue seriously, while the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is probing the incident.
Air India has not yet publicly commented on the reported confirmatory test result.
The case has now placed renewed focus on cockpit safety, mandatory drug testing and the strict standards expected from flight crew. As the investigation continues, authorities will have to determine whether the test result had any connection with the flight incident and what regulatory or disciplinary action, if any, should follow.
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