Air India Phuket-Delhi flight: Pilot tests positive for psychoactive substance after 300-ft drop

The pilot-in-command (PIC) of an Air India flight from Phuket to Delhi, which experienced a sudden 300-foot drop in altitude while cruising over Odisha, tested positive for a psychoactive substance, according to a preliminary report by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB).

The incident involved Air India flight A12379, which was carrying 145 people, including 137 passengers, three infants, six cabin crew members and two pilots.

At least 20 passengers and four crew members sustained injuries during the flight.

According to the AAIB report, the aircraft was initially reported to have encountered turbulence while en route to Delhi and subsequently landed safely.

An AAIB team later reached the Delhi airport to assess the incident. Following an assessment of the evidence and the injuries reported among those on board, the occurrence was classified as an accident.

The report said both pilots underwent post-flight medical examinations after the aircraft arrived in Delhi, as the flight had originated outside India. Their breath-analyser tests were found to be satisfactory.

However, both crew members were subsequently subjected to psychoactive substance detection using a specialised detection kit. The sample of the PIC was found to be 'non-negative', prompting further testing.

'Subsequently, blood samples of both the flight crew were sent to the pathological laboratory for confirmatory tests.

The confirmatory test report of PIC was found non-negative, whereas the sample of the Co-Pilot was found negative in both tests,' the AAIB said.

The preliminary findings indicate that the PIC's confirmatory test detected the presence of a psychoactive substance.

Reports have identified the substance as marijuana, commonly referred to as weed.

The AAIB said the investigation into the technical and other aspects of the incident is still underway.

It also flagged the positive confirmatory test as a serious concern and recommended that the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) take appropriate action on priority.

'The confirmation of use of psycho-active substances is a serious concern and AAIB recommends appropriate actions by DGCA on priority,' the report said.

The AAIB's preliminary report does not constitute the final findings of the investigation, with further examination of the incident and its technical aspects still in progress.