Air India flight lost hydraulics, pilot fired after drug test

An Air India flight carrying 137 passengers and eight crew members plummeted midair last month due to a temporary loss of hydraulic systems, resulting in injuries to 24 people before the aircraft stabilized and safely landed. The incident, which occurred on August 4 while en route from Phuket, Thailand, to New Delhi, has been classified as a "serious incident" by India's civil aviation ministry.

The Airbus A320 encountered altitude issues, with the flight-control system detecting the loss of three hydraulic systems for several seconds. The aircraft initially rose by 372 feet before plummeting by 292 feet. The autopilot disengaged, and a two-second stall warning was issued before the systems recovered and the plane returned to normal operation.

Preliminary findings from India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) revealed that the pilot in command tested positive for psychoactive substances in a confirmatory drug test during the investigation. The airline promptly terminated the captain, adhering to their "zero-tolerance approach to violations of safety, fitness, or regulatory requirements."

Following the incident, India's aviation ministry is considering implementing stricter screening rules for psychoactive substances. Air India has already mandated a mandatory one-time drug screening for all its pilots last month.

The airline's troubles have been ongoing, with recent challenges stemming from flight disruptions related to the war in the Middle East. The most significant blow to the carrier's reputation came in June 2025 when Air India Flight 171, a London-bound Boeing 787 Dreamliner, crashed shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad, killing all 242 passengers on board and 19 people on the ground.

In response to the crisis, Air India appointed Tewolde Gebremariam as its new chief executive last month, hoping that the former Ethiopian Airlines chief will successfully steer the airline out of its current struggles and towards profitability.