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Pilot on Air India's Phuket-Delhi flight that dropped 300 feet tests positive for marijuana: Sources
The pilot who flew the Air India Phuket-Delhi flight that faced sudden loss of altitude last week tested positive for drugs, reports confirmed on Tuesday.
The pilot-in-command (PIC) of an Air India Phuket-Delhi flight that faced sudden loss of altitude last week, causing injuries to 17 people, tested positive for a psychoactive substance during a post-flight screening, people familiar with the developments said on Tuesday.
The pilot’s preliminary drug test had returned “non-negative”, a government release said earlier. “The pilot in question has not tested positive in the confirmatory test. He has tested positive for Marijuana,” an official aware of the details in the report told HT.
On August 4, the Phuket-Delhi flight AI2379 experienced a sudden loss of altitude of around 300 feet during cruise, causing injuries to 13 passengers and four crew members. An initial statement from Air India had cited turbulence as the reason.
Soon after the incident, the aircraft, with 137 passengers and eight crew members on board, stabilised and landed safely in Delhi.
The pilots of the flight have been off-rostered pending a probe. The incident was classified as a serious one and is being investigated by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB).
As part of prescribed procedures, both pilots underwent a screening for psychoactive substances after the flight landed in the Capital. The initial screening of the PIC had indicated a result requiring confirmatory testing, following which the sample was sent to a designated laboratory.
“Pending investigation and completion of the prescribed process, both flight crew members have been taken off roster by the DGCA. Further action, as appropriate, will be taken based on the outcome of the investigation and confirmatory test results,” the civil aviation ministry earlier said.
On Wednesday, Civil aviation minister Ram Mohan Naidu said two crew members who suffered spinal injuries in the incident remained admitted at Fortis hospital.
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.
