Air India Phuket-Delhi Flight Row: Pilot Tests Positive For Drugs, Say Sources

Published 11 August 2026 · local

News india Air India Phuket-Delhi Flight Row: Pilot Tests Positive For Drugs, Say Sources Air India Phuket-Delhi Flight Row: Pilot Tests Positive For Drugs, Say

News india Air India Phuket-Delhi Flight Row: Pilot Tests Positive For Drugs, Say Sources Air India Phuket-Delhi Flight Row: Pilot Tests Positive For Drugs, Say Sources Published By, Last Updated: August 11, 2026, 18:42 IST The Airbus A320, operating flight AI2379 from Phuket to Delhi on August 4, lost about 300 feet of altitude during cruise before stabilising and landing safely in Delhi. Airbus and France's BEA will assist the AAIB investigation into the Air India AI2379 flight incident. (Video screengrabs/Social Media) The pilot-in-command of an Air India flight from Phuket to Delhi that experienced a sudden loss of altitude last week has tested positive for drugs, sources told CNN-News18. The incident involved Air India flight AI2379, operated by an Airbus A320 aircraft (VT-EXO), which dropped around 300 feet during cruise on August 4 before stabilising and landing safely in Delhi.

Both pilots underwent mandatory psychoactive substance screening after the incident, in line with standard operating procedures followed in serious aviation occurrences. The initial test result of the pilot-in-command was reportedly “not negative", following which the sample was sent for a confirmatory laboratory examination. During the mid-air incident, a few passengers and cabin crew members sustained injuries. The aircraft was carrying 137 passengers, including three infants, along with eight crew members comprising two pilots and six cabin crew members. The incident has been classified as a “serious incident" and is being investigated by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB). Authorities had secured the aircraft’s Flight Data Recorder and Cockpit Voice Recorder for examination. In a statement, the Civil Aviation Ministry said the aircraft experienced a sudden loss of approximately 300 feet in altitude during cruise before stabilising and landing safely at Delhi airport.

Meanwhile, the Civil Aviation Ministry has summoned Air India’s outgoing Chief Executive Officer and Accountable Manager, Campbell Wilson, in connection with the incident. European planemaker Airbus has also said it was sending specialists to assist the investigation. What Happened On August 4? The aircraft had experienced multiple glitches, including the auto-pilot mode getting disconnected, during the flight on August 4, sources told PTI. Soon after the co-pilot of the aircraft recovered control manually, there was a message of flight control stall, they added. Various indicator switches went off briefly, and there were multiple technical and mechanical glitches, the sources said and added that the plane also experienced mid-air turbulence. A hydraulic system uses a fluid under pressure to drive machinery or move mechanical components. Virtually all aircraft make use of some hydraulically-powered components, according to the website skybrary.