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Air India pilot on Phuket-Delhi flight who tested +ve for marijuana had sleep difficulty: Sources
This came a day after a confirmatory drug test said the pilot had tested positive for marijuana.
The pilot-in-command (PIC) of an Air India Phuket-Delhi flight that plunged 300 feet last week was on medication over “sleep difficulty”, people familiar with the matter told HT on Wednesday.
The development came a day after a confirmatory drug test said the PIC had tested positive for marijuana during a post-flight screening – a finding that raises questions over passenger safety.
The latest revelation was made by the PIC before a team of the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) during the course of investigation, the people cited above said.
“In his statement to the AAIB, the PIC said he was experiencing sleep difficulty over a preceding period related to personal circumstances for which he was prescribed medication by a family doctor,” one of the persons said, seeking anonymity.
“He also claimed that he struggled to sleep during his layover as well,” the person added.
There was no immediate comment from Air India at the time of filing this report.
On August 4, the Phuket-Delhi flight AI2379, an Airbus A320neo, lost 300 feet of altitude while cruising. The airline, in an initial statement, blamed the drop on turbulence. The government, in an earlier statement, said 14 passengers on board the flight – which was carrying 137 passengers, six cabin crew and two pilots – were injured.
However, the Press Information Bureau (PIB) in a statement on Tuesday increased the number of injured to 24 – four cabin crew members and 20 passengers.
As part of prescribed procedures, both pilots were checked for psychoactive substances after the flight landed in Delhi. The PIC’s preliminary drug test had returned a “non-negative” – an inconclusive finding – according to a government release on Sunday.
“The pilot in question has tested positive in the confirmatory test. He has tested positive for marijuana,” said a central government official aware of the development on Tuesday. To be sure, it is not clear when the marijuana was ingested.
The two pilots have been off-rostered pending a probe.
The incident, initially under investigation by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), was referred to the AAIB after being classified as a “serious” incident.
The AAIB is investigating the circumstances surrounding the occurrence, while the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is responsible for regulatory action based on the outcome of the investigation and the prescribed testing process.
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“He also claimed that he struggled to sleep during his layover as well,” the person added.
