Air India Phuket-Delhi Pilot, High On Marijuana, Was On Sleep Medication; Had Trouble Resting Before Flight

Published 12 August 2026 · local

News india Air India Phuket-Delhi Pilot, High On Marijuana, Was On Sleep Medication; Had Trouble Resting Before Flight Air India Phuket-Delhi Pilot, High On Marijuana

News india Air India Phuket-Delhi Pilot, High On Marijuana, Was On Sleep Medication; Had Trouble Resting Before Flight Air India Phuket-Delhi Pilot, High On Marijuana, Was On Sleep Medication; Had Trouble Resting Before Flight Published By, Last Updated: August 12, 2026, 15:46 IST Air India Phuket-Delhi flight pilot was on prescribed medication for sleep difficulty, according to a report. The AAIB probe continues. The Air India Phuket-Delhi flight experienced a sudden 300-foot altitude variation on August 4. (Video screengrabs/Social Media) The pilot-in-command of the Air India flight from Phuket to Delhi that experienced a sudden 300-foot loss of altitude last week had been taking prescribed medication for sleep difficulty, according to an internal flight safety report accessed by NDTV. The revelation comes as the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) continues its probe into the August 4 incident and has cautioned against concluding isolated or unverified information. According to the report, the pilot said in his flight safety statement that he had been experiencing difficulty sleeping over a preceding period due to personal circumstances and had been prescribed medication by his family doctor. He said that during the layover in Phuket, he attempted to rest but “sleep did not come easily". The pilot said he consequently chose to engage in light activity, such as walking, believing it would help improve his sleep quality. He also raised concerns about the way his rostered duties affected the amount of daytime rest available to him. Air India Pilot Cites Compressed Daytime Rest In his statement, the pilot said that although his rostered duties were legally within prescribed rest limits, they were scheduled in a manner that “compressed available daytime rest, which is often below the minimum required for adequate recovery", according to the report.

For the first flight, the pilot was required to report for duty at 12.10 am, meaning preparations for the flight had to begin before 10 pm, he reportedly said. The pilot said getting adequate sleep before that duty period was difficult. After the flight to Phuket, completing post-flight duties and travelling to the hotel generally took between 1.5 and two hours, according to his statement. This, he said, further reduced the time available for daytime rest and often left him with less time than he believed was necessary for proper recovery. For the return flight, the pilot said he had to wake up at 3 am IST. The pilot had tested positive for marijuana in two drug tests. The second test was a confirmatory test. Air India Co-Pilot Was In Command During Altitude Drop The incident occurred on August 4 when Air India flight AI 2379, an Airbus A320 registered as VT-EXO, was flying from Phuket to Delhi. According to the AAIB, the aircraft experienced a sudden altitude variation of around 300 feet while cruising. The aircraft subsequently stabilised and landed safely in Delhi. The incident report accessed by NDTV indicates that the pilot-in-command was not in his seat at the time of the sudden altitude change, with the co-pilot in command of the aircraft. The report, citing sources, reported that the pilot subsequently went to the cabin to check on injuries and allegedly told passengers not to film him or the aircraft. Upon arrival in Delhi, he was reportedly unsteady on his feet and had to be helped to sit down.