3 weeks ago
Air India Pilot Faces Intoxication Claims After Phuket-Delhi Turbulence
An airplane flying from Phuket to Delhi suddenly dropped about 300 feet in the air.
It still landed safely, but some people on the plane had small injuries.
A passenger named Shrikant Jha said the pilot seemed to be drunk.
He said the pilot's walk and voice did not seem normal after the bumpy part of the flight.
Airline rules say pilots must take a test for drugs and alcohol after such events.
Both pilots on the plane took that test.
The main pilot's first test showed something that needed a closer look, so another test was ordered.
Everyone is now waiting for the final test report.
The pilots have been taken off flying duty while the investigation continues.
The airline says it has not seen the test results and cannot comment on them yet.
Air India flight AI2379, an Airbus A320, lost about 300 feet of altitude during cruise from Phuket to Delhi on August 4 before landing safely.
Passenger Shrikant Jha claimed the pilot's gait, appearance and manner of speaking made him seem intoxicated after the turbulence.
Both flight crew members underwent mandatory psychoactive substance screening; the pilot-in-command's sample required confirmatory analysis at a designated laboratory.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has taken both flight crew members off the roster while the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau investigates the serious incident.
The flight carried 137 passengers including three infants and eight crew members; some passengers and cabin crew reported minor injuries.
Air India said the screening results have not been shared with the airline, so it cannot comment on any findings.
- Who
- Passenger Shrikant Jha, who alleged the pilot seemed intoxicated, and the pilot-in-command and co-pilot of Air India flight AI2379.
- What
- Air India flight AI2379 lost about 300 feet of altitude during cruise after turbulence, prompting an intoxication allegation against the pilot and regulatory testing.
- Where
- Aboard Air India flight AI2379 travelling from Phuket to Delhi.
- When
- August 4, 2026; the report was published on August 10, 2026.
- Why
- The passenger suspected pilot intoxication based on his gait, appearance and speech, and post-flight screening results required further confirmatory analysis.
Passenger's Account
Airline and Regulators
Pilot sobriety
Passenger's Account
Passenger Shrikant Jha said the pilot's gait, appearance and manner of speaking suggested he was intoxicated, calling it a systemic failure.
Airline and Regulators
The Civil Aviation Ministry said confirmatory testing is still underway and the final report is awaited; Air India said results have not been shared with it, so it cannot comment.
Injuries
Passenger's Account
One passenger said around 15 to 20 passengers were injured during the incident.
Airline and Regulators
Air India said a small number of passengers and crew members with minor injuries were taken for precautionary medical assessment.
Nature of the event
Passenger's Account
A passenger described the turbulence as sudden and severe, saying the aircraft tilted sharply while several passengers were asleep.
Airline and Regulators
Air India described it as a brief in-flight turbulence-related event that caused a momentary change in altitude, with the aircraft landing safely.
Key facts
- Flight
- AI2379
- Aircraft
- Airbus A320
- Route
- Phuket to Delhi
- Incident date
- August 4, 2026
- Altitude lost
- Approximately 300 feet
- Passengers
- 137, including three infants
- Crew
- 8 members (two pilots, six cabin crew)
- Current status
- Both pilots off roster; confirmatory test report awaited
Quotes
Shrikant Jha
Passenger on the flight
“"His gait didn’t look right, and the way he spoke after the turbulence made it seem like he was intoxicated."”
news18.com
Sources
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