Air India pilot tests positive for psychoactive substances after flight incident
A preliminary report issued by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has raised alarms in the aviation sector after confirming that the captain of Air India flight AI2379 tested positive for psychoactive substances. The incident occurred on August 4, when the Airbus A320 covering the route between Phuket and New Delhi experienced a sudden loss of altitude, leaving 24 people injured, including passengers and crew members.
Following the incident, which was classified by India’s Ministry of Civil Aviation as a serious event, both pilots were subjected to mandatory medical checks. While the co-pilot tested negative in all evaluation instances, the captain’s samples required specialized laboratory analysis, which ultimately confirmed the presence of psychoactive substances, unofficially identified as marijuana.
Confirmation of the consumption of a psychoactive substance is a matter of serious concern and requires the General Directorate of Civil Aviation to take priority measures.
AAIB preliminary report
Technical details of the incident
The AAIB report details that the flight, which was carrying 137 passengers and eight crew members, faced a series of critical failures. The aircraft recorded a triple hydraulic failure, which caused the autopilot to disconnect and triggered stall alarms for two seconds. During this period, the plane suffered a violent altitude fluctuation, ascending 372 feet before dropping sharply by about 90 meters.
To clarify the facts, the Indian authorities conducted an exhaustive investigation that included:
- Review of flight logs and aircraft systems.
- Analysis of maintenance records and operational documentation.
- Comprehensive medical evaluation of the crew.
- Technical assistance from the French accident investigation agency and the manufacturer Airbus.
New security measures
In response to this concerning finding, the airline has decided to tighten its security protocols. Previously, national regulations required random screening applied to only 10% of the staff. Given the severity of case AI2379, the company has implemented a total review scheme that will cover its approximately 5,000 pilots, seeking to ensure the integrity and safety of all its flights.
