Mid-air drama: Plane drops altitude as captain fails drug test

Air India flight AI2379, which took off from Phuket to Delhi with 145 people on board, experienced an unusual and frightening incident at cruising altitude. According to the aviation magazine One Mile at a Time, the plane suddenly lost 300 feet of altitude and exceeded its structural load limit. Since the seatbelt sign was not active at the time, the passengers were not buckled in. As a result of the severe turbulence, 13 passengers and four crew members were injured and taken to hospitals after landing; all are expected to make a full recovery.

What caused the sudden drop in altitude?

One Mile at a Time reports that the investigation revealed that in the 80 minutes leading up to the drop, no fewer than 13 different technical malfunctions were recorded on the plane, including alerts about unlocked doors and hydraulic problems. In the moments before the incident, the captain was standing behind the co-pilot and discussing air conditioning system issues. Suddenly, a stall warning sounded, the autopilot disconnected, and the plane's nose pitched up. The co-pilot reacted according to procedures, pushing the nose down to recover from the stall, which caused the rapid loss of altitude.

The strangest twist in the story occurred after landing, when both pilots underwent a routine drug test. The captain tested positive for marijuana, a finding confirmed by a second test. However, marijuana remains in the body for many weeks, and there is no evidence that the captain was under the influence during the flight itself. Nevertheless, this is a serious violation of strict airline safety regulations, which prohibit the use of drugs even outside of working hours.

India's reaction to the affair

The incident caused a huge media storm in India, especially in light of Air India's already problematic reputation. The country's regulatory authorities have opened a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances, and the company's CEO was required to appear before the authorities to provide explanations. While local media is focusing on the pilot who failed the drug test, it appears that the chain of technical malfunctions is the key to understanding this serious safety incident.

Despite the drama and the frightening injuries, all affected passengers and crew members are expected to recover fully. The investigation will determine whether the combination of recurring technical failures and crew performance led to the unusual drop, while the airline must now deal with the consequences and further damage to its public image.