The pilot of an Air India flight from Phuket to Delhi has been subjected to further testing after an initial dope screening returned a “not negative” result following a turbulence incident in which the aircraft reportedly lost around 300 feet of altitude.
An Air India Phuket-Delhi flight has come under investigation after experiencing a sudden altitude loss during turbulence, with the pilot’s subsequent psychoactive substance screening reportedly returning a “not negative” result.
The incident involved Air India flight AI2379, which was operating from Phuket to New Delhi on August 4. During the flight, the aircraft reportedly encountered severe turbulence and suddenly lost around 300 feet of altitude. The abrupt movement resulted in injuries to passengers and members of the cabin crew, while the aircraft continued its journey and landed safely in Delhi.
Following the incident, the pilot underwent a mandatory post-flight screening for psychoactive substances. The initial result was described as “not negative”, prompting authorities to send the sample for confirmatory laboratory analysis.
The preliminary result does not by itself establish that the pilot had consumed a prohibited substance. A confirmatory test is required before any final conclusion can be drawn, and authorities are currently awaiting the laboratory findings.
Both pilots associated with the flight have reportedly been removed from flying duties while the matter is examined. The precautionary action comes as aviation authorities investigate the circumstances surrounding the flight and assess whether any operational or other factors contributed to the incident.
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is examining the occurrence, including the aircraft’s sudden loss of altitude and the circumstances surrounding the turbulence. Investigators are expected to consider flight data, crew actions and other relevant operational information as part of the inquiry.
The altitude drop caused people inside the aircraft to be thrown around the cabin, resulting in injuries. However, there is currently no established finding that links the pilot’s preliminary screening result to the aircraft’s sudden altitude change. The two aspects are being examined as part of the wider investigation.
The development has also highlighted the importance of pilot fitness and aviation safety procedures. Mandatory testing and subsequent confirmatory analysis can help authorities establish whether psychoactive substances had any role in an aviation occurrence.
For now, the pilot’s “not negative” screening remains subject to confirmatory testing. It would therefore be premature to describe the result as a confirmed positive test. The final laboratory report, together with the findings of the aviation investigation, is expected to provide greater clarity on the circumstances surrounding the Phuket-Delhi flight.
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