Air India Phuket Flight Pilot Tested Positive For Psychoactive Substance: Probe Report
Earlier, the pilot tested positive for psychoactive substances during the post-flight screening in Delhi. Another test was conducted sometime later, which also turned out to be positive.
On August 4, Air India's A320 aircraft experienced a catastrophic failure of its three hydraulic systems while cruising at 36,000 feet between Phuket and Delhi. The green, blue, and yellow hydraulic systems lost pressure within seconds, triggering an autopilot disengagement, stall warning, and altitude upset. The pilot-in-command (PIC) tested positive for psychoactive substance use following the flight, prompting the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) to recommend that the DGCA take appropriate action.
Both pilots passed breathalyzer tests, but the PIC later tested positive for psychoactive substance use in a follow-up blood test. The co-pilot tested negative on both tests. The hydraulic failure occurred within a five-second window, causing the aircraft to gain and then lose altitude. Passengers and crew were thrown around the cabin, and 24 people required medical attention, with four hospitalized for serious injuries.
The aircraft landed safely in Delhi after a 90-minute flight, despite the extensive cabin damage. The ongoing investigation will focus on the Power Transfer Unit, which was activated a week prior to the incident.
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- AI flight incident: Hydraulic systems failed; pilot tested positive for psychoactive substance timesofindia.indiatimes.com
