Air India Terminates Phuket-Delhi Pilot After Psychoactive Substance Test

Air India has terminated the services of the pilot-in-command of a Phuket-Delhi flight after he tested positive for a psychoactive substance in a confirmatory laboratory examination following a serious in-flight incident.

The airline said on Friday that the pilot’s employment had been terminated with immediate effect in line with its zero-tolerance policy on violations of safety, fitness and regulatory requirements.

“Safety remains Air India's highest priority,” an Air India spokesperson said, adding that the pilot-in-command of the Phuket-Delhi flight had tested positive for a psychoactive substance.

The action followed a preliminary report by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), which flagged the test result as a serious concern and recommended that the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) take appropriate action on priority.

According to the AAIB report, both pilots of Air India flight AI-2379 underwent post-flight medical screening in Delhi after the August 4 incident. Their breathalyser tests were satisfactory, but the psychoactive substance screening of the pilot-in-command returned a non-negative result.

Blood samples were subsequently sent to a laboratory for confirmation. The pilot-in-command’s confirmatory test was again non-negative, while the co-pilot tested negative in both examinations.

The AAIB said its investigation into the technical and other aspects of the incident is continuing.

Hydraulic failure led to altitude upset

The preliminary report said the Airbus A320, operating flight AI-2379 from Phuket to Delhi, lost all three hydraulic systems while cruising at an altitude of 36,000 feet over Odisha.

Following the hydraulic systems failure, the aircraft initially climbed 372 feet above its assigned altitude before descending 292 feet. Investigators described the occurrence as an altitude upset during the cruise phase.

There were 145 people on board the aircraft, including 137 passengers, six cabin crew members and two pilots. At least 20 passengers and four crew members suffered injuries during the incident.

The report said no abnormalities were found during the flight crew’s walk-around inspection before departure. The aircraft’s pre-flight inspection at Phuket also did not identify any issues apart from an item already covered under the Minimum Equipment List (MEL).

The AAIB has not yet concluded its investigation, with detailed examination of the incident and its technical aspects still underway.