Air India pilot reportedly fails second drug test after mid-air plunge incident

On August 12, Indian investigators are scrutinizing data related to a mid-air plunge incident involving an Air India Airbus A320, which had 137 passengers and eight crew members on board. The aircraft descended approximately 300 feet (91 meters) shortly after departing from Phuket, Thailand, and safely landed in New Delhi on August 4.

Indian authorities reported that 24 individuals sustained injuries, surpassing the initial figure of 17 injuries disclosed by the airline. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) stated that they were actively gathering, preserving, and analyzing all pertinent technical, operational, medical, and human-factor evidence. The bureau emphasized their commitment to an unbiased, transparent, and professional investigation.

According to local media reports, citing unnamed sources, the chief pilot failed a second drug screening test after the incident. The aviation ministry confirmed that both pilots underwent standard psychoactive substance screening following the flight's return to New Delhi. The captain's initial screening revealed a result necessitating confirmatory testing, with samples subsequently sent for further analysis.

Both pilots were subsequently removed from flying duties pending the results of the investigation, according to the ministry.

Air India declined to comment on the reported test outcomes, as authorities had not shared the investigation findings with the airline. The company spokesperson affirmed their continued cooperation with the relevant authorities and highlighted that they routinely conduct drug testing for crew members. The AAIB inquiry is being supported by Airbus and France's civil aviation safety agency, the BEA.

An Airbus spokesperson revealed that the manufacturer was supplying technical assistance to Indian authorities, with a team of experts dispatched to Delhi. The BEA confirmed their involvement in the investigation but did not plan to dispatch investigators to India at this time.

This incident adds to the challenges Air India faces while striving to revamp its operations following a series of setbacks. The airline encountered disruption due to the Middle East conflict and ongoing operational pressures. Its reputation took a significant hit in June 2025 when Flight 171, bound for London, crashed shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad, resulting in the death of 242 people on board and 19 people on the ground.

The airline recently appointed Tewolde Gebremariam, a former Ethiopian Airlines chief executive, as its new chief executive.