• Source:JND
HighLights
  1. Air India pilot terminated for psychoactive substance use.
  2. Follows Phuket-Delhi flight's sudden 300-foot altitude drop.
  3. Incident injured 24 passengers and crew members.

Air India Phuket-Delhi Flight Row: Air India has terminated the pilot-in-command of a Phuket-Delhi flight with immediate effect after he tested positive for a psychoactive substance.

An Air India spokesperson said, "Safety remains Air India’s highest priority. The Pilot-in-Command of the Phuket-Delhi flight tested positive for a psychoactive substance. In line with Air India’s zero-tolerance approach to violations of safety, fitness or regulatory requirements, the pilot’s employment has been terminated with immediate effect."

ALSO READ: Air India Phuket-Delhi Flight Row: Pilot Tests Positive For Psychoactive Substance After Marijuana Confirmation

What AAIB Preliminary Report Revealed

The development follows preliminary findings by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) into an August 4 incident involving Air India flight AI2379 from Phuket to Delhi. The Airbus A320, carrying 137 passengers and eight crew members, experienced a sudden loss of altitude, dropping around 300 feet before stabilising and landing safely in Delhi.

According to the AAIB report, the aircraft suffered a loss of pressure across all three hydraulic systems, which disengaged the autopilot and left certain flight controls unresponsive for a few seconds.

While the green hydraulic system failed first, blue and yellow systems followed, failing within few seconds. The failures caused the autopilot to disengage and triggered a brief stall warning. As a result, the plane first climbed 372 feet and then dropped 292 feet from its assigned level.

The sudden drop in altitude caused many passengers, who were not wearing seat belts, to be thrown off the plane and hit the ceiling, while others fell onto seats and aisles. Following this, the passengers, along with the crew members, suffered injuries.

While the flight later landed safely, 24 people on board were injured.

ALSO READ: Dope Test Once Every Year: Centre Mulls Full Screening Of All Pilots After Air India Flight Fiasco

Pilot Tests Positive For Psychoactive Substance

As part of the investigation into the incident, the flight crew underwent mandatory drug testing. While the co-pilot tested negative, the pilot-in-command's initial test required further verification. A subsequent confirmatory test returned positive for a psychoactive substance, prompting Air India to terminate the pilot's employment with immediate effect.

AAIB Declared Incident An 'Accident'

Separately, the AAIB has declared the incident as a total accident. Under the Montreal Convention, the international aviation treaty, when an incident is deemed an 'accident', it becomes mandatory for the airline to pay substantial legal compensation to all injured and affected passengers.

As a result, the 24 individuals injured in the accident will now receive compensation from Air India.

(With Inputs From Gautam Kumar Mishra)


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