NEW DELHI — The captain of an Air India flight that suddenly lost about 300 feet in altitude last week has tested positive for marijuana in a confirmatory drug test, a source familiar with the matter said, prompting India's civil aviation authorities to scrutinize the incident.
The captain was the pilot-in-command of Air India flight AI2379, which was flying from Phuket, Thailand, to New Delhi on Aug. 4 when the Airbus A320neo experienced a sudden loss of altitude during the cruise phase. The incident injured 13 passengers and four crew members, according to information reported by Reuters.
The aircraft, carrying 137 passengers and eight crew members, landed safely in New Delhi after the incident.
Both pilots underwent mandatory screening for psychoactive substances following the incident. The captain's initial test required further examination, and a sample was subsequently sent to a designated laboratory for confirmation, according to the source. The confirmatory test returned positive for marijuana.
A positive test result does not by itself establish when the substance was consumed or that the captain was impaired while operating the flight. India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has urged the media and public not to draw conclusions about the cause of the altitude loss until investigators have examined all available evidence.
The incident has prompted increased scrutiny of aviation safety procedures. India's Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu said on Tuesday that authorities were taking the matter seriously and asked the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to review existing rules governing drug testing of flight crew, according to Indian media reports. The AAIB is also investigating the circumstances surrounding the flight.
Air India Chief Executive Campbell Wilson was summoned by the civil aviation ministry for a briefing on the investigation. Wilson has said the airline is cooperating with authorities, while the airline and ministry had not publicly commented on the reported confirmatory test as of Tuesday, according to Reuters.
The Aug. 4 incident occurred during cruise and resulted in a brief but substantial altitude loss. Air India said the aircraft continued its journey normally after the event and landed safely in Delhi, while those injured were taken for medical evaluation.
The AAIB has said investigators must examine all available evidence before determining the circumstances or contributing factors behind the altitude loss. The investigation and regulatory review remain ongoing.
