An Air India flight that suddenly lost altitude over Southeast Asia earlier this month has taken a serious turn, with the pilot-in-command failing a second consecutive test for psychoactive substances, this time confirming marijuana use.
On 4 August, Air India flight AI2379, an Airbus A320neo flying from Phuket to Delhi, suffered a sudden loss of around 300 feet in altitude mid-flight. The aircraft was carrying 137 passengers, including three infants, along with eight crew members, two pilots and six cabin crew.
The sudden drop threw passengers and crew who weren’t strapped in, leaving 24 people injured: 20 passengers and four crew members. Videos and accounts shared online by passengers described people being thrown into the air and hitting their heads during the incident.
Notably, reports citing sources indicate the pilot-in-command was not seated in the cockpit at the moment the aircraft dropped, leaving the co-pilot in command of the aircraft at the time.
The aircraft landed safely in Delhi, after which both pilots underwent mandatory post-flight screening for psychoactive substances, as required under regulations.
Two Failed Dope Tests
The pilot-in-command failed the first post-flight screening, testing positive for a psychoactive substance. A second, confirmatory test has now also come back non-negative for marijuana, according to people familiar with the matter.
Investigators are still examining whether the altitude loss was caused by turbulence, pilot action, a technical fault, or a possible hydraulic malfunction. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is understood to be looking into the matter.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation has not issued an official statement on the pilot’s test results.
Air India Summoned Over the Incident
The fallout has reached the top of the airline. Air India CEO Campbell Wilson was summoned by the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to brief officials on the incident. He was told to address the matter across the airline’s departments, with officials noting that public confidence in Air India remains fragile.
That concern isn’t without context. The incident comes roughly 14 months after Air India flight AI171, a Boeing 787-8 flying from Ahmedabad to London Gatwick, crashed shortly after takeoff on 12 June last year, killing 260 people. Officials at the ministry reportedly told Wilson that this latest episode has further shaken confidence in the carrier.
What Happens Next
Under DGCA rules, aviation personnel failing a dope test for the first time are typically sent for rehabilitation and can return to duty only after clearing a subsequent test and receiving a fitness certificate. However, airlines retain discretion to set stricter internal policies, including termination, even for first-time offenders, and a second confirmed positive result raises the stakes considerably for the pilot involved.
