{
  "id": 721675,
  "title": "Air India pilot who tested positive for marijuana slept 30-35 minutes during Phuket-Delhi flight",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/13/air-india-pilot-who-tested-positive-for-marijuana-slept-30-35-minutes",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-13T01:58:18.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Hindustan Times",
    "slug": "hindustan-times",
    "url": "https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/air-india-pilot-who-tested-positive-for-marijuana-slept-30-35-minutes-during-phuket-delhi-flight-101786585995550.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "On August 4, Air India Flight AI2379 encountered turbulence during its Phuket-Delhi journey, causing the aircraft to lose altitude suddenly. The flight's commander, who had tested positive for marijuana, revealed during questioning that he struggled with sleep and was on medication prescribed by his family doctor. The pilot admitted to falling asleep for 30 to 35 minutes during the flight and using the restroom before returning to stand behind the first officer. It was during this time that the altitude event occurred, causing the pilot to be thrown to the cockpit floor. The first officer was controlling the aircraft at the time. A cabin crew member assisted the pilot back to his feet. This is the first detailed account from the cockpit crew regarding the incident.",
  "summary": "The pilot told investigators he had been struggling with his sleep for some time because of personal circumstances.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Free Press Journal",
        "title": "Air India Phuket-Delhi Flight: Pilot Allegedly Creates Ruckus In Cockpit, Claims To Be On Sleep Medication",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/12/air-india-phuket-delhi-flight-pilot-allegedly-creates-ruckus-in",
        "published": "2026-08-12T17:53:13.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}