The pilot-in-command of an Air India Phuket-Delhi flight has been terminated with immediate effect days after testing positive for a psychoactive substance, the airline said on Friday.
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 violation of safety, fitness or regulatory requirements, the pilot’s employment has been terminated with immediate effect."
The development follows the AAIB’s preliminary findings into an August 4 incident involving the flight, which experienced a sudden loss of altitude during its journey from Phuket to Delhi.
The Airbus A320, carrying 137 passengers and eight crew members, dropped around 300 feet before stabilising and landing safely. Several people on board were injured.
The AAIB report said the aircraft briefly experienced a loss of pressure across all three hydraulic systems, causing the autopilot to disengage and leaving some flight controls unresponsive for a few seconds. The investigation into the cause of the incident is continuing.
The incident dates back to August 4, when an Air India flight travelling from Phuket to Delhi experienced a sudden loss of altitude during the journey.
Flight AI2379, an Airbus A320 carrying 137 passengers and eight crew members, dropped by around 300 feet before stabilising. The aircraft later landed safely in Delhi, but 24 people on board were injured.
Following the incident, the flight crew underwent mandatory drug testing as part of the investigation. The co-pilot tested negative, while the pilot-in-command’s initial test required further confirmation.
The subsequent confirmatory test returned positive for a psychoactive substance, prompting action by Air India. The airline has now terminated the pilot’s employment with immediate effect.
Source: News18