Two more Air India pilots have been flagged during preliminary drug screening conducted in the aftermath of the Phuket-Delhi flight incident, according to reports. The pilots have been temporarily removed from flying duties while their confirmatory test results are awaited.
The development follows Air India’s decision to introduce mandatory one-time drug screening for pilots across both Air India and Air India Express. The expanded testing programme was launched after the pilot-in-command of the Phuket-Delhi flight returned a positive result for marijuana in a confirmatory test.
According to reports, several hundred pilots have already undergone the screening since the programme began. The initial results involving the two additional pilots were described as “non-negative”, meaning the preliminary screening requires further laboratory confirmation before any final conclusion can be reached.
The two pilots have reportedly been de-rostered as a precautionary measure. Their final test results are expected to determine whether the preliminary findings are confirmed and whether any further regulatory or administrative action is necessary.
The wider screening programme was initiated after Air India Flight AI2379, operating from Phuket to New Delhi on August 4, experienced a sudden loss of altitude during the flight. The aircraft, an Airbus A320neo, dropped by approximately 300 feet, with several passengers and crew members sustaining injuries.
The incident has prompted scrutiny of both pilot fitness and the aircraft’s technical performance. Importantly, the drug-testing developments should not automatically be considered the cause of the Phuket-Delhi incident. Airbus’ preliminary technical analysis indicated that the aircraft temporarily lost hydraulic pressure across its three hydraulic systems, resulting in key flight controls becoming unresponsive for several seconds.
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau is continuing its investigation into the incident, with technical assistance from Airbus and France’s Bureau of Enquiry and Analysis for Civil Aviation Safety. Investigators are examining the aircraft’s systems, flight data, maintenance records and other operational factors.
Air India’s expanded drug-screening programme represents a significant tightening of its internal safety checks. The airline has said the initiative is intended to strengthen compliance and reinforce safety standards across its operations. The testing also covers pilots of Air India Express and is being conducted beyond the airline’s routine regulatory screening requirements.
For now, the results involving the two additional pilots remain subject to confirmation. Until the laboratory process is completed, the preliminary findings should not be treated as definitive evidence of prohibited-substance use or impairment while flying.
The latest development nevertheless adds another layer to the scrutiny surrounding Air India’s safety procedures as authorities and the airline continue to investigate the Phuket-Delhi incident and assess measures aimed at strengthening cockpit safety and crew fitness standards.
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