Air India Pilot Cited Sleep Difficulty Amid Marijuana Use After Flight Incident
An Air India pilot operating a Phuket-Delhi flight that experienced a significant altitude drop has reported sleep difficulties, for which he was prescribed medication. This comes after the pilot tested positive for marijuana in a post-flight screening.
Key takeaways
- An Air India pilot on a Phuket-Delhi flight that experienced a 300-foot altitude drop on August 4 reported sleep difficulties.
- The pilot stated he was prescribed medication for sleep issues by a family doctor and struggled to sleep during his layover.
- A confirmatory drug test found the pilot positive for marijuana, following a preliminary inconclusive screening.
- The incident resulted in 24 people, including passengers and cabin crew, sustaining injuries.
- The pilot-in-command and another pilot have been taken off duty pending the outcome of the investigation by the AAIB and DGCA.
The pilot-in-command of an Air India flight from Phuket to Delhi, which dropped 300 feet mid-air on August 4, has stated he was experiencing sleep difficulties. Sources familiar with the matter revealed that the pilot was prescribed medication for this condition by a family doctor.
The pilot reportedly shared this information with a team from the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), indicating he had also struggled to sleep during his layover. This revelation follows a confirmatory drug test that found the pilot positive for marijuana.
The flight, AI2379, an Airbus A320neo, lost altitude while cruising, carrying 137 passengers, six cabin crew, and two pilots. Initially, the airline attributed the drop to turbulence. However, official statements have since updated the number of injured individuals to 24, comprising 20 passengers and four cabin crew members.
Both pilots underwent post-flight screening for psychoactive substances. The pilot-in-command's preliminary test yielded an inconclusive result, but a subsequent confirmatory test confirmed the presence of marijuana. The exact timing of marijuana ingestion remains unclear. The two pilots have been temporarily removed from duty pending the investigation.
The incident, initially investigated by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has been escalated to the AAIB due to its classification as a "serious" event. The AAIB is examining the circumstances of the occurrence, while the DGCA will handle regulatory actions based on the investigation's findings and the testing results.
Sources reviewed
Project Chintan independently synthesized and analyzed information cross-checked across the sources listed above.
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