Two more air India pilots fail initial drug tests

Two more air India pilots fail initial drug tests

Two more Air India pilots have failed preliminary drug screening following the incident involving an Air India flight from Phuket to Delhi. The airline has temporarily removed both pilots from flying duties while authorities await the results of their final tests.

According to Indian media reports, Air India decided to conduct drug screening for all its pilots after the incident. More than 300 pilots have undergone testing so far, with final results generally taking between 24 and 48 hours.

The captain of the Phuket-to-Delhi flight also failed two drug-related tests conducted after the aircraft landed. Subsequent testing reportedly detected cannabis in the pilot’s system. Indian media have also reported that a flight attendant complained that the captain had allegedly used cannabis before the flight.

The development has raised further questions about safety procedures and pilot fitness at Air India. The airline is now reviewing the results of the wider testing campaign as it seeks to determine whether any other crew members may have violated aviation safety regulations.

The Phuket-Delhi flight involved an Airbus A320neo that reportedly experienced a sudden loss of altitude during the journey. The aircraft dropped by around 300 feet before recovering, prompting concerns among passengers and crew.

Officials initially described the incident as turbulence. However, detailed information from the aircraft’s systems later prompted closer scrutiny of what happened during the flight and raised questions about possible technical issues as well as the captain’s conduct.

Air India has yet to receive the final laboratory results for the two newly identified pilots. Until those results arrive, the airline has kept both pilots off flight operations as a precautionary measure.