3 weeks ago
Air India Phuket-Delhi pilot reportedly fails dope test, DGCA probes
An airplane was flying from Phuket to Delhi when it suddenly dropped in the sky and shook.
It was an Air India flight, and it landed safely at the airport in Delhi.
Some passengers got hurt and went to the hospital, but most were able to go home.
After the flight, one of the pilots took a special test to check for things pilots are not allowed to have in their bodies.
People who know about the situation say the pilot did not pass that test.
But Air India says it does not know the test results yet.
A government safety group called the DGCA is investigating what happened on the plane and checking the test report.
The airline also says it tests its pilots regularly to keep people safe.
We still do not know the pilot's name or exactly why the plane dropped.
A pilot of the turbulence-hit Air India Phuket-Delhi flight AI2379 reportedly failed a post-flight dope test, according to sources.
The DGCA is investigating the August 4 incident, during which the aircraft experienced a sudden loss of altitude before landing safely in Delhi.
Air India said it could not comment on the test results as they had not been shared with the airline.
The flight was an Airbus A320neo carrying 137 passengers and eight crew members; 13 passengers and four crew members were admitted to hospital.
All 13 hospitalised passengers have been discharged, while four crew members remain under medical care.
- Who
- An Air India pilot of flight AI2379 (identity not disclosed), along with 137 passengers and eight crew members
- What
- The aircraft experienced a sudden loss of altitude during cruise; the pilot reportedly failed a post-flight dope test, and the DGCA is investigating
- Where
- The Phuket-Delhi route; the aircraft landed at Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi
- When
- August 4 (year not specified in the articles)
- Why
- To determine the cause of the sudden altitude change and to establish the outcome of the pilot's post-flight screening test
Report Viewed as Confirmed by Sources
Report Viewed as Unconfirmed
Credibility of the dope test report
Report Viewed as Confirmed by Sources
Sources indicate one pilot failed the post-flight dope test, making the report newsworthy and placing the pilot under scrutiny.
Report Viewed as Unconfirmed
Air India and Federation of Indian Pilots President Captain CS Randhawa say the result has not been confirmed or shared with the airline, and calling it 'positive' is premature without proof.
Severity of the altitude loss
Report Viewed as Confirmed by Sources
A passenger filed a DGCA complaint alleging the aircraft dropped about 300 feet, throwing passengers against the cabin ceiling and causing injuries including a suspected spinal injury.
Report Viewed as Unconfirmed
The Ministry of Civil Aviation described the occurrence as a 'momentary altitude variation', and the DGCA has not yet released findings establishing the precise sequence or reason.
Key facts
- Airline
- Air India
- Flight
- AI2379 (Phuket-Delhi)
- Aircraft
- Airbus A320neo, registered VT-EXO
- Passengers and crew
- 137 passengers (including three infants) and eight crew members
- Reported altitude change
- Around 300 feet, as alleged by a passenger in a DGCA complaint
- Regulator
- Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)
- Key development
- One pilot reportedly failed a post-flight dope test, per sources
- Air India response
- Cannot comment; results not shared with the airline
Quotes
Air India spokesperson
Representative of Air India explaining company policy on drug testing
“…the results of the test have not been shared with Air India, and we are therefore not in a position to comment on any findings. Air India undertakes regular drug testing of crew members in compliance with civil aviation regulation, independent of any specific flight or operational incident. We will continue to cooperate with the relevant authorities as required.”
financialexpress.com
“It has not yet been confirmed whether the pilot tested positive; until the result is available, it would be premature to claim a positive result, as there is currently no proof to support it.”
financialexpress.com
Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu
Civil Aviation Minister of India
“As far as how the incident happened, the DGCA is investigating it, and we still have to know the final report on that. So we are waiting for that.”
financialexpress.com
Sources
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