Phuket-Delhi flight probe: Pilot’s psychoactive substance test raises fresh questions
The Air India Phuket-Delhi flight incident has taken a fresh and serious turn after a preliminary probe found that the pilot-in-command tested non-negative for a psychoactive substance in a confirmatory drug test.
Flight AI2379, an Airbus A320, was flying from Phuket to Delhi on August 4 when it suddenly lost around 300 feet of altitude while cruising over Odisha. The aircraft stabilised and landed safely in Delhi, but 20 passengers and four cabin crew members were injured.
Drug test adds a new dimension to the probe
According to the preliminary investigation, the pilot-in-command returned a non-negative result for a psychoactive substance in a confirmatory test. The finding has prompted fresh scrutiny of crew fitness and drug-screening procedures.
The result, however, does not by itself establish that the substance caused the aircraft’s sudden altitude loss. Investigators are examining both human and technical factors before reaching conclusions.
Aircraft also suffered multiple hydraulic failures
The incident was not limited to the pilot’s test result. An initial Airbus assessment found that all three hydraulic systems temporarily failed, causing key flight-control surfaces, including the elevators and ailerons, to become unavailable for about four seconds.
The hydraulic systems recovered within seconds, allowing the aircraft to regain control. Investigators are examining how the technical failures, autopilot behaviour and other factors interacted during the incident.
Air India and regulators face fresh scrutiny
The development comes after the airline and aviation authorities had already faced questions over the incident. Air India subsequently moved to conduct additional drug screening of its pilot workforce, while the AAIB continued its investigation.
The government’s initial statement stressed that the AAIB would examine technical, operational, medical and human-factor evidence before drawing conclusions.
The Phuket-Delhi episode therefore leaves investigators with two critical questions: what caused the sudden loss of altitude, and did any human-factor issue contribute to the incident? The final findings will determine whether the pilot’s test result had any connection to what happened in the cockpit.
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