The Air India Phuket-Delhi flight incident has taken a serious turn after investigators learned that the pilot-in-command had slept for around 30 to 35 minutes during the flight and later tested positive for marijuana in a confirmatory drug test. The development has intensified concerns over aviation safety, pilot fitness and compliance with cockpit safety procedures.
The commander of Air India flight AI2379 told investigators from the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) that he had been experiencing difficulty sleeping for some time because of personal circumstances. According to people familiar with his statement, he had been prescribed medication by a family doctor for the problem.
The pilot also reportedly told investigators that he was unable to sleep properly during his layover in Phuket before operating the flight to Delhi.
The exact medication prescribed to the pilot has not been disclosed. It is also not immediately clear whether the medication had been formally declared to the airline, an issue that could become significant during the investigation.
Pilot Slept 30-35 Minutes During Flight
According to the account given to investigators, the pilot-in-command slept for approximately 30 to 35 minutes while the Airbus A320 was in flight. After waking up, he reportedly went to the washroom and returned to the cockpit, where he stood behind the first officer.
At the time, the first officer was reportedly flying the aircraft while the commander was performing the role of pilot monitoring.
The commander was discussing the aircraft’s air-conditioning system when the sudden altitude event occurred. He was reportedly thrown onto the cockpit floor during the incident and was helped back up by a cabin crew member occupying the observer seat.
Investigators are still examining the precise sequence of events inside the cockpit. The accounts provided by the pilots do not independently establish every detail of what happened during the critical moments.
Confirmatory Test Found Marijuana
The latest revelation follows a significant development in the post-flight investigation. Both pilots underwent mandatory psychoactive-substance screening after the aircraft landed in Delhi.
The pilot-in-command’s initial test was recorded as “non-negative”, meaning the screening result required further laboratory analysis. A subsequent confirmatory test reportedly returned positive for marijuana.
Officials have stressed that the test result alone does not establish when the substance was consumed. The timing of marijuana ingestion remains unclear and is expected to be considered as part of the ongoing investigation.
Both pilots have been removed from the roster pending the investigation.
Phuket-Delhi Flight Lost Around 300 Feet
The incident occurred on August 4 aboard Air India flight AI2379, an Airbus A320neo operating from Phuket to Delhi. The aircraft was carrying 137 passengers, six cabin crew members and two pilots.
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The flight experienced a sudden altitude drop while cruising. Initial reports put the loss at around 300 feet, while Flightradar24 data examined by Hindustan Times indicated an altitude change of roughly 360 feet, from approximately 36,160 feet to 35,800 feet.
The sudden movement left several people injured. The government initially reported 14 injuries, but the Press Information Bureau later raised the figure to 24, comprising 20 passengers and four cabin crew members. Air India had initially attributed the incident to turbulence.
Multiple Cockpit Warnings Recorded
The aircraft’s post-flight Centralised Fault Display System log has also become an important part of the investigation. According to the report, nine warning messages appeared within approximately one minute around 9:32am IST.
The alerts included indications involving the aircraft’s Green, Blue and Yellow hydraulic systems, low reservoir levels, an autopilot disconnect and an elevator flight-control fault.
Two emergency-exit sensor warnings were subsequently recorded. However, no further hydraulic or elevator warnings appeared for the following 43 minutes. Another engine anti-ice fault was recorded later, followed by a second autopilot disconnect.
The pattern has raised questions about whether the warnings were linked to a temporary event rather than a sustained mechanical failure. Investigators are expected to examine flight-data records, cockpit information and crew statements before determining what caused the altitude excursion.
AAIB Probe Underway, DGCA To Decide Regulatory Action
The incident was initially investigated by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). It was subsequently referred to the AAIB after being classified as a serious incident.
The AAIB is examining the circumstances surrounding the flight, including the aircraft’s technical performance and the conduct and fitness of the crew. The DGCA will be responsible for regulatory action based on the findings and applicable testing procedures.
A key question is whether the pilot’s prescribed medication was declared to the airline as required under aviation rules. DGCA regulations require pilots taking prescription medication to disclose it to their operator, and failure to do so can result in regulatory or disciplinary action.
Passenger Safety Concerns Intensify
The combination of a sudden altitude loss, multiple cockpit warnings, a pilot’s reported sleep during the flight and a confirmed positive marijuana test has placed the incident under intense scrutiny.
However, investigators have yet to establish a direct causal connection between the pilot’s drug-test result, his medication, his sleep difficulties and the aircraft’s altitude loss. The investigation will therefore be crucial in determining whether any crew-related factors contributed to the incident.
Air India had not issued a fresh statement on the latest developments at the time of the report. The final findings of the AAIB and subsequent regulatory action by the DGCA are expected to provide greater clarity on what happened aboard the Phuket-Delhi flight and whether additional aviation safety measures are required.
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