{
  "id": 380228,
  "title": "Air India pilot flagged for confirmatory drug test after 300ft plunge",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/09/air-india-pilot-flagged-for-confirmatory-drug-test-after-300ft-plunge",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-08-09T13:52:26.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/world/world/2026/08/1507718/air-india-pilot-flagged-confirmatory-drug-test-after-300ft-plunge"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Air India pilot undergoes confirmatory drug test following turbulence incident\n\nAn Airbus A320 operated by Air India lost approximately 300 feet of altitude in turbulence during a flight from Phuket, Thailand to New Delhi on August 4. The aircraft safely landed, but 17 passengers and crew members were injured. Both pilots underwent a standard psychoactive substance screening test, but the pilot-in-command's results required confirmatory testing. Samples were sent for analysis, and the final report is awaited. The aviation ministry classified the incident as a \"Serious Incident\" and initiated an investigation by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB). Both pilots have been removed from the flying roster pending the investigation's outcome and confirmatory test results. The airline, facing multiple challenges, appointed former Ethiopian Airlines CEO Tewolde Gebremariam as its new CEO in hopes of a turnaround.",
  "summary": "MUMBAI: 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.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Indian Express",
        "title": "Air India flight turbulence: Pilot’s sample sent for confirmatory drug test, result awaited",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/09/air-india-flight-turbulence-pilots-sample-sent-for-confirmatory-drug",
        "published": "2026-08-09T12:38:27.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Hindu",
        "title": "Air India pilot's psychoactive substance test requires confirmation after altitude-loss incident",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/09/air-india-pilots-psychoactive-substance-test-requires-confirmation",
        "published": "2026-08-09T13:10:14.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}