Air India Pilot Drug Scandal: Rising Intoxication Cases Raise Alarms Over Aviation Safety

A post-flight drug test of the pilot-in-command (PIC) of an Air India flight from Phuket to Delhi that suddenly dropped in altitude last week, killing two people and injuring 24 others, found a psychoactive substance, sources told CNBC on Tuesday.

Its initial drug test by the pilot had come back “non-negative”, the government release said earlier. “The pilot in question has tested positive in the confirmatory test. He has tested positive for Marijuana,” an official aware of the details.

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The Phuket-Delhi flight AI2379 lost its height suddenly while flying at a high altitude during cruise on August 4, injuring 20 passengers and four crew members. In a preliminary statement, Air India had said it was due to turbulence.

Soon after the incident, the aircraft, with 137 passengers and eight crew members on board, stabilised and landed safely in Delhi.

The pilots have been placed on the list of those who might have been involved in the incident and are in limbo awaiting an investigation. The incident was deemed serious, and is being investigated by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB).

During the process as per the prescribed procedure both the pilots were screened for psychoactive substances upon landing at the Capital. The preliminary results of the PIC had been indicative of a sample that needed confirmatory testing and it had been sent to a designated laboratory.

“Pending investigation and completion of the prescribed process, both flight crew members have been taken off roster by the DGCA. Further action, as appropriate, will be taken based on the outcome of the investigation and confirmatory test results,” the civil aviation ministry earlier said.

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Earlier, people familiar with the situation referred to a preliminary defect report (PDR) prepared by the pilots, who indicated multiple technical glitches, one of which was an autopilot disconnection, occurred before the incident.

Two persons aware of the matter said the pilots mentioned technical issues with the aircraft in the PDR. “The PDR mentioned that the autopilot disconnected. It also mentioned a stall warning and a flight control ECAM (Electronic Centralised Aircraft Monitor) message,” said one of these persons, requesting anonymity.

A second official said the matter “is being investigated considering all the angles including suspected technical glitch.”

But the airline's spokesman said he could not comment on the development due to the investigation. "As the investigative process is ongoing, Air India cannot comment on any findings or observations related to the investigation. We will continue to extend our full cooperation to relevant authorities as required,” the spokesperson said.

The two crew members with spinal injuries in the incident were still admitted in Fortis hospital, said Civil aviation minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu on Wednesday.

The AAIB is conducting an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the occurrence and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) will take regulatory action in response to the outcome of the investigation and the prescribed testing process.

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