New Delhi, Sept. 4: The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has recommended that the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) take priority action after the pilot-in-command of an Air India Phuket-Delhi flight tested positive for a psychoactive substance following an altitude upset during cruise. The finding has emerged as a serious concern in the preliminary investigation, while detailed technical and other aspects of the incident remain under examination.
The aircraft, an Airbus A320 operating as flight AI-2379, was carrying 145 people, including 137 passengers, six cabin crew members and two pilots, when it experienced the incident on August 4. The aircraft lost all three hydraulic systems while cruising at 36,000 feet over Odisha.
Following the flight’s arrival in Delhi, both pilots underwent post-flight medical screening. Their breathalyser tests produced satisfactory results. However, subsequent substance-detection screening returned a non-negative result for the pilot-in-command, while the co-pilot tested negative.
The AAIB said blood samples from both crew members were then sent to a pathological laboratory for confirmation. The pilot-in-command’s confirmatory test also returned a non-negative result, whereas the co-pilot’s sample remained negative in both tests.
Based on the confirmatory finding, the investigation agency advised the DGCA to take appropriate action on priority. The AAIB said its wider investigation into technical and other aspects of the incident is continuing.
The aircraft’s movement during the altitude upset also forms part of the investigation. According to the preliminary report, it initially climbed 372 feet above its assigned altitude before descending 292 feet.
The incident resulted in injuries to 20 passengers and four crew members. The aircraft suffered damage primarily to overhead storage bins and ceiling panels.
The AAIB report found no discrepancies during the aircraft’s pre-flight inspection at Phuket, apart from an already invoked Minimum Equipment List item. The flight crew also reported no discrepancies during their walk-around inspection before departure.
Air India said it was cooperating with the investigation and had initiated voluntary testing of all its pilots following the incident. The airline said safety remained its highest priority and maintained zero tolerance for breaches involving safety, fitness or regulatory requirements.
The preliminary findings place the pilot’s confirmatory test result alongside the aircraft’s altitude deviation, hydraulic-system failure and reported injuries as key elements of an investigation that remains ongoing.
