Air India pilot undergoes ‘confirmatory’ drug test after flight plunge

India’s aviation ministry said Sunday that an Air India pilot whose flight plunged dramatically in turbulence, injuring 17 passengers and crew is undergoing a “confirmatory” psychoactive drug test. The Airbus A320, carrying 137 passengers and eight crew, lost around 300 feet (91 metres) on August 4 while flying from Phuket in Thailand to New Delhi, before stabilising and landing safely, the civil…

scmp.com ·1d ago

Air India pilot undergoes ‘confirmatory’ drug test after flight plunge

India's aviation ministry announced on Sunday that an Air India pilot is undergoing a "confirmatory" drug test following a turbulence-induced plunge of the airline's Airbus A320. The incident, which occurred on August 4 while the aircraft was en route from Phuket in Thailand to New Delhi, resulted in 17 passengers and crew members being injured.

Eight passengers and four cabin crew members required hospitalization after the plane safely landed in the Indian capital. Post-flight screening of the pilots revealed one result requiring further investigation. Both pilots have been removed from the flying roster pending the outcome of the investigation and the confirmatory drug test.

The flight has been classified as a "Serious Incident," and the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has launched an inquiry. The airline, already grappling with various challenges, now faces additional scrutiny as it seeks to undergo a much-needed turnaround.

Written by urgent.news from South China Morning Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.