New Delhi, Sep 2026 : Air India on Friday 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 decision was taken in accordance with its zero-tolerance policy towards 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 released by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) earlier on Friday. The investigation agency flagged the pilot's 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 subsequent confirmatory laboratory examination.
The incident occurred on August 4 while the Airbus A320 was cruising at an altitude of 36,000 feet over Odisha. The aircraft experienced a loss of all three hydraulic systems during the flight, according to the preliminary findings.
Following the incident, both pilots underwent post-flight medical examinations in Delhi. The AAIB said breathalyser tests conducted on both crew members produced satisfactory results. However, the psychoactive substance screening of the pilot-in-command returned a non-negative result.
Blood samples from both members of the flight crew were subsequently sent to a pathological laboratory for confirmatory testing. The pilot-in-command's sample again returned a non-negative result, while the co-pilot tested negative in both the initial and confirmatory examinations.
The AAIB said investigations into the incident, including its technical and other aspects, are continuing.
The preliminary report also detailed an altitude deviation during the flight. The aircraft initially climbed approximately 372 feet above its assigned altitude before descending by around 292 feet, resulting in what investigators described as an altitude upset during the cruise phase.
There were 145 people on board the aircraft, comprising 137 passengers, six cabin crew members and two pilots. At least 20 passengers and four crew members sustained injuries during the incident.
The AAIB report further noted that no discrepancies had been reported by the flight crew during the aircraft's walk-around inspection. The pre-flight inspection conducted at Phuket also did not identify any abnormalities, apart from an item that had already been addressed under the aircraft's Minimum Equipment List (MEL).
The findings are part of the preliminary investigation, with the AAIB continuing to examine the circumstances surrounding the hydraulic-system failure, altitude deviation and other aspects of the incident.
