Drama in India: Plane dived 100 meters, pilot failed drug test
An Air India captain will undergo further testing after the aircraft he was piloting during a flight from Phuket suddenly lost altitude. The Indian aviation authority has classified the event as a "serious incident."
The captain of an Air India flight from Phuket to New Delhi, which experienced a sudden loss of altitude last week, will undergo further tests for psychoactive substances after failing an initial drug screening conducted following the incident.
On August 4, an Air India A320 aircraft, model VT-EXO, operating flight AI2379, experienced a sudden altitude drop of approximately 300 feet (about 100 meters) during cruise. The aircraft subsequently stabilized and landed safely in Delhi, according to the Indian government. In line with standard procedures, both flight crew members underwent mandatory screening for psychoactive substances.
The initial test for the pilot-in-command indicated a result requiring a confirmatory analysis. Samples have been sent to a dedicated laboratory, and the final report is currently pending. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has removed both crew members from duty pending the investigation results. The event has been classified as a "serious incident" and is being investigated by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau.
The ministry has not disclosed which substance, if any, was indicated by the initial screening. Air India stated that it is aware that post-flight tests were conducted in accordance with relevant protocols, but has not received formal notification of the findings.
"We are aware that a post-flight screening test was conducted for the pilots in accordance with relevant protocols. However, the results of the test have not been shared with Air India, and therefore we are not in a position to comment on any findings," said an airline spokesperson.
Air India stated that it conducts regular drug tests for crew members in accordance with civil aviation regulations and will continue to cooperate with the authorities. The incident comes against the backdrop of increased scrutiny of India's aviation sector following a series of safety investigations and regulatory reviews.
