Air India terminates Phuket-Delhi pilot after testing positive for psychoactive substance

Air India on Friday terminated the Pilot-in-Command (PIC) of its Phuket-Delhi flight after the preliminary investigation into the August 4 altitude upset found that the pilot had tested positive for a psychoactive substance.

An Air India spokesperson said, "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 decision came shortly after the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) released its preliminary report on the incident involving Air India flight AI2379. The investigation found that the PIC's blood sample returned a "non-negative" result for a psychoactive substance in both the initial screening and subsequent confirmatory laboratory test.

The AAIB described the finding as a serious safety concern and recommended that the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) take appropriate action on priority. The bureau said its investigation remains focused on establishing the circumstances behind the altitude upset as well as examining the pilot's medical test results.

The Airbus A320neo was flying from Phuket to Delhi on August 4 when it encountered a sudden and temporary loss of its hydraulic systems while cruising at 36,000 feet. The incident caused the autopilot to disengage, following which the aircraft briefly gained altitude before experiencing a rapid descent. The aircraft gained around 372 feet and then dropped 292 feet, according to the preliminary report.

The sudden altitude change injured 20 passengers and four cabin crew members. Four passengers were hospitalised with serious injuries, while the aircraft's cabin also suffered damage, including cracked ceiling panels and dislodged overhead storage doors.

What did the pilot's medical tests show?

Following the incident, both flight crew members underwent mandatory breathalyser tests, which returned negative results. They were subsequently subjected to screening for psychoactive substances.

While the co-pilot's sample tested negative, the PIC's sample was found to be non-negative. Blood samples from both pilots were then sent to a pathological laboratory for confirmatory testing. The PIC's confirmatory blood test again returned a non-negative result, while the co-pilot's sample remained negative.

“The confirmation of use of psycho-active substance is a serious concern and AAIB recommends appropriate actions by DGCA on priority,” the preliminary report stated.

The AAIB has clarified that its investigation is aimed at preventing future accidents and incidents rather than determining legal responsibility or assigning blame. The bureau is continuing to examine the technical failure involving the aircraft's hydraulic systems, the sequence of events during the flight and the implications of the pilot's test results.

The final report is expected to provide further findings on the incident. "The final report will be published in due course," the AAIB stated.