Indian flights under scanner as Air India pilot tests positive for marijuana
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New Delhi : The pilot-in-command of an Air India flight from Phuket to Delhi that encountered mid-air turbulence last week has tested positive for a psychoactive substance in confirmatory screening.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the pilot has tested positive for marijuana. On August 4, Air India flight AI2379, operated with an Airbus A320, suddenly lost 300 feet in altitude amid mid-air turbulence.
At least 17 people were injured. The flight had 145 people on board, including 137 passengers and 8 crew members. Both pilots had undergone mandatory psychoactive substance screening after the incident. The Civil Aviation Ministry said on August 9 that the screening test for the Pilot-in-Command indicated a result requiring confirmatory testing and samples were sent to a designated laboratory.
Pending completion of the investigation, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has taken both flight crew members off the roster.
The revelation comes amid growing concerns over aviation safety in India following a string of recent incidents. On June 12, an Air India Boeing 787-8 flying from Ahmedabad to London crashed shortly after takeoff, killing 260 people.
Earlier this year, multiple airlines also reported technical snags and emergency landings, raising questions about crew fitness and maintenance standards. With the latest case of a pilot testing positive for a psychoactive substance, passengers and aviation experts have flagged that Indian flights are increasingly becoming a risk to travelers, and have urged regulators to enforce stricter safety and health checks.
