AI pilot undergoes tests after drug screening

The pilot-in-command of an Air India Airbus A320 that experienced a sudden loss of altitude during a Phuket-Delhi flight on August 4 has been subjected to further testing after an initial screening for psychoactive substances returned a result requiring confirmatory analysis, the Ministry of Civil Aviation said on Sunday.

The development comes days after Air India flight AI2379, operating from Phuket to Delhi, experienced a sudden loss of approximately 300 feet during cruise. The aircraft subsequently stabilised and landed safely in Delhi. A few passengers and members of the cabin crew reported injuries during the incident.

According to the ministry, both members of the flight crew underwent the prescribed psychoactive substance screening after the incident, in line with standard procedures. The screening result of the pilot-in-command indicated that the sample required confirmatory testing.

“Samples have accordingly been sent to the designated laboratory for confirmatory analysis, and the final report is awaited,” the ministry said.

The ministry stressed that further action would depend on the outcome of the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) investigation and the confirmatory laboratory report. The incident has been classified as a serious incident and is being investigated by the AAIB.

Air India said it was aware that post-flight screening had been conducted on the pilots but stressed that the airline had not received the results.

“We are aware that a post-flight screening test was conducted on the pilots in accordance with applicable protocols. However, the results of the test have not been shared with Air India, and we are therefore not in a position to comment on any findings,” an Air India spokesperson said.

The airline also said such testing is conducted regularly as part of its regulatory compliance and is not limited to flights involved in operational incidents.

“Air India undertakes regular drug testing of crew members in compliance with civil aviation regulations, independent of any specific flight or operational incident. We will continue to cooperate with the relevant authorities as required,” the airline said.

As the investigation and confirmatory testing continue, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has taken both members of the flight crew off the flying roster.

The ministry said any further action would be determined by the findings of the investigation and the final laboratory report.

The distinction between an initial screening result and a confirmed laboratory finding is significant. A non-negative or a result requiring further analysis at the screening stage does not, by itself, establish that a pilot consumed or was impaired by a prohibited substance.

The incident occurred on August 4 when Air India’s Airbus A320, registration VT-EXO, operating flight AI2379 from Phuket to Delhi, experienced a sudden loss of approximately 300 feet during the cruise phase.

The aircraft stabilised following the event and continued to Delhi, where it landed safely. The flight was carrying 137 passengers, including three infants, and eight crew members - two pilots and six cabin crew members, according to the Ministry of Civil Aviation.

The sudden change in altitude resulted in injuries to some passengers and cabin crew members.

The AAIB is examining the circumstances surrounding the altitude loss. Authorities have not yet announced a final cause for the incident, nor have they established any connection between the pilot’s initial screening result and the aircraft’s sudden loss of altitude.

Investigators are expected to examine multiple aspects of the occurrence, including the aircraft’s response to the turbulence, the crew’s handling of the event, weather conditions and the aircraft’s technical condition.

For now, the confirmatory laboratory analysis remains pending, and the broader safety investigation is continuing.

The aviation ministry and DGCA have said they remain committed to maintaining aviation safety standards and ensuring that the incident is investigated in accordance with prescribed regulations and procedures.

Until the laboratory report and investigation are completed, no definitive conclusion can be drawn regarding the pilot’s screening result or whether psychoactive substances played any role in the incident.