Pilot of Air India Phuket-Delhi flight tests positive for psycho-active substance, AAIB flags safety concerns
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A pilot operating an Air India flight from Phuket to Delhi returned a "non-negative" screening result for a psycho-active substance after the aircraft experienced a sudden altitude drop that injured 24 people, according to a preliminary investigation report.
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) flagged the finding in its probe into the August 4 incident involving Air India flight AI2379.
The Airbus A320neo was cruising at 36,000 feet when it experienced a temporary and rapid failure of its hydraulic systems. This caused the autopilot to disengage. The aircraft then gained 372 feet before plunging 292 feet, according to the report.
The sudden movement injured 20 passengers and four cabin crew members. Four people were hospitalised with serious injuries. The aircraft's interior also suffered damage, including cracked ceiling panels and dislodged overhead storage doors.
Pilot's blood sample returns 'non-negative' result
After the aircraft landed safely in Delhi, both flight crew members cleared the standard breath-analyser test. However, additional screening for psycho-active substances found that the blood sample of the Pilot-in-Command returned a "non-negative" result in both the initial and laboratory confirmatory tests.
The finding has been flagged as a serious safety concern, with the AAIB recommending immediate action by India's aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
“The confirmation of use of psycho-active substance is a serious concern and AAIB recommends appropriate actions by DGCA on priority,” the report stated.
The AAIB said its primary focus is to prevent accidents and incidents rather than determine legal responsibility or assign blame.
"The sole objective of the investigation... shall be the prevention of accidents and incidents and not to apportion blame or liability".
The bureau is continuing its investigation into both the technical failure that caused the altitude upset and the pilot's medical test results.
The AAIB said the investigation is still underway and that further findings will be included in its final report. The final investigation will determine the findings related to the aircraft's hydraulic systems, the sequence of events during the flight and the implications of the pilot's test results.
"The final report will be published in due course," the AAIB stated.