New Delhi, September 4, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Air India has terminated the services of the pilot-in-command of a Phuket-Delhi flight after he tested positive for a psychoactive substance in a confirmatory laboratory examination conducted following a serious in-flight incident.
The airline said the action was taken in line with its zero-tolerance policy on violations of safety, fitness and regulatory requirements.
“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 violation of safety, fitness or regulatory requirements, the pilot’s employment has been terminated with immediate effect,” an Air India spokesperson said.
The termination followed a preliminary report by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), which flagged the positive test result as a serious concern and recommended that the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) take appropriate action on priority.
According to the AAIB report, the pilot-in-command of Air India flight AI-2379, operating from Phuket to Delhi, tested positive for a psychoactive substance during both the initial screening and the subsequent confirmatory laboratory examination.
Both pilots underwent post-flight medical screening in Delhi following the incident. While their breathalyser tests were satisfactory, the psychoactive substance screening of the pilot-in-command returned a non-negative result.
Blood samples from both crew members were subsequently sent to a pathological laboratory for confirmation. The pilot-in-command’s sample was again found non-negative, while the co-pilot tested negative in both examinations.
The AAIB said its detailed investigation into the technical and other aspects of the incident is continuing.
The preliminary report said the Airbus A320 operating the flight suffered a loss of all three hydraulic systems while cruising at 36,000 feet over Odisha on August 4.
The aircraft initially climbed 372 feet above its assigned altitude before descending 292 feet, leading to what investigators described as an altitude upset during the cruise phase.
There were 145 people on board the aircraft, including 137 passengers, six cabin crew members and two pilots. At least 20 passengers and four crew members sustained injuries in the incident.
The AAIB report also noted that the flight crew had reported no discrepancies during the walk-around inspection. The pre-flight inspection at Phuket similarly did not identify any abnormalities, apart from an already invoked Minimum Equipment List (MEL) item.
The investigation into the incident and its underlying technical and operational aspects remains underway.
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