- Phuket-Delhi Air India flight was hit by severe turbulence on August 4.
- Captain reportedly tested positive for psychoactive substances.
- Air India yet to confirm results.
Phuket-Delhi Air India Turbulene: The captain of the Phuket-Delhi Air India flight that was hit by severe turbulence on August 4, has reportedly tested positive for psychoactive substances. However, Air India has not yet confirmed the positive test.
Air India's Reponse
"We are aware that a post-flight screening test was conducted on the pilots in accordance with applicable protocols. However, the results of the test have not been shared with Air India, and we are, therefore, not in a position to comment on any findings," an Air India spokesperson said, as quoted by IANS.
"We will continue to cooperate with the relevant authorities as required,” the spokesperson added.
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'Pilot Was 100 Per Cent Intoxicated': Passenger
"It was an early morning flight scheduled for 8 AM. Between around 9:30 AM and 10 AM, the aircraft suddenly rolled sharply, and all the passengers were thrown around. Some people hit the ceiling and then fell to the floor two or three times. Luggage fell on some passengers' heads. One baby, around one to one-and-a-half years old, was thrown about three seats away from the person holding the child...Pilot was 100 per cent intoxicated. You can ask other passengers too. He was high on weed...We will file a case," the passenger said, as quoted by IANS.
Delhi: A passenger says, "The flight was coming from Phuket. It was an early morning flight scheduled for 8 AM. Between around 9:30 AM and 10 AM, the aircraft suddenly rolled sharply, and all the passengers were thrown around. Some people hit the ceiling and then fell to the… pic.twitter.com/EbIvRS5hoI
— IANS (@ians_india) August 4, 2026
What Exactly Happened On Phuket-Delhi Air India Flight
The Air India flight from Phuket suffered severe turbulence for almost five minutes, injuring 17 people including passengers and crew members, informed Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu. The minister added that the flight recorder is being anaylsed to identify what exactly happened mid-air.
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During the incident, the aircraft descended at a rate of 1,600 feet per minute, meaning it was losing nearly eight metres of altitude every second which is roughly equivalent to the height of a two-and-a-half-storey building. In just 30 seconds, the aircraft lost around 425 feet of altitude, sparking panic inside the cabin.
The airline confirmed that flight AI2379 encountered a brief weather-related event during cruise but managed to recover quickly.