04 September,2026 08:18 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondent
On August 4, the aircraft initially climbed 372 feet above its assigned altitude before descending 292 feet, resulting in what investigators described as an altitude upset during the cruise phase of the flight. Representational pic
Air India on Friday terminated the services of the pilot-in-command of a Phuket-Delhi flight after he tested positive for a psychoactive substance in a confirmatory test conducted following a serious in-flight incident.
"Safety remains Air India's highest priority. The pilot-in-command of the Phuket-Delhi flight tested positive for a psychoactive substance. In line with Air India's zero-tolerance approach to violation of safety, fitness or regulatory requirements, the pilot's employment has been terminated with immediate effect," an Air India spokesperson said.
The airline's action came after the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), in a preliminary report released earlier on Friday, flagged the positive 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, the pilot-in-command (PIC) of Air India flight AI-2379 from Phuket to Delhi tested positive for a psychoactive substance in both the initial screening and the subsequent confirmatory laboratory examination.
Both pilots underwent post-flight medical screening in Delhi following the incident. While breathalyser tests of both crew members were satisfactory, the psychoactive substance detection test returned a non-negative result for the PIC.
"The sample of PIC was found non-negative. Subsequently, blood samples of both the flight crew were sent to the pathological laboratory for confirmatory test. The confirmatory test report of PIC was found non-negative whereas the sample of the Co-Pilot was found negative in both the tests," the AAIB report stated.
The AAIB said its detailed investigation into the technical and other aspects of the occurrence is continuing.
According to the preliminary report, the Airbus A320 operating as flight AI-2379 on August 4 suffered a loss of all three hydraulic systems while cruising at 36,000 feet over Odisha.
The aircraft initially climbed 372 feet above its assigned altitude before descending 292 feet, resulting in what investigators described as an altitude upset during the cruise phase of the flight.
There were 145 people on board, including 137 passengers, six cabin crew members and two pilots. At least 20 passengers and four crew members sustained injuries in the incident.
The AAIB report noted that no discrepancies were reported by the flight crew during the walk-around inspection. The aircraft's pre-flight inspection at Phuket also did not reveal any abnormalities, apart from an already invoked Minimum Equipment List (MEL) item.
The investigation is continuing.
(With IANS inputs)
