The pilot of an Air India flight from Phuket to Delhi has failed two consecutive drug tests following an incident where the aircraft suddenly lost 300 feet of altitude. Sources confirmed the tests detected the presence of marijuana in the pilot's system after the August 4 flight, which left at least 20 passengers and four crew members injured.
Reports indicate the pilot was not in his seat when the Airbus A320neo experienced a negative-G event, leaving the co-pilot in command. Both pilots have been removed from flight duty while the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau conducts a comprehensive probe into the technical and human factors involved in the incident.
Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu stated that the government is treating the matter with extreme seriousness, emphasizing that aviation safety remains the ministry's top priority. The investigation will examine all recorded flight data and medical evidence before reaching any formal conclusions regarding the cause of the altitude loss.
