Archive · 5 Sep 2026
Air India Starts Voluntary Pilot Testing After Phuket Flight Incident
Air India is testing all of its pilots after a flight had a serious problem in the air.
The flight was traveling from Phuket to Delhi on August 4.
All three of the plane’s hydraulic systems briefly lost pressure.
This caused the plane’s altitude to change, injured 24 people and damaged parts of the cabin.
Both pilots passed alcohol breath tests after landing.
However, the pilot-in-command had non-negative results for psychoactive substances in two tests.
Investigators are continuing to examine the technical and medical issues.
Air India says the extra testing is meant to help strengthen safety.
Air India announced voluntary testing for 100% of its pilots after the AAIB released a preliminary report on flight AI-2379.
The Phuket-to-Delhi flight experienced a brief loss of pressure in all three hydraulic systems on August 4.
The failure caused an altitude fluctuation, injured 24 people and damaged sections of the cabin interior.
Both pilots tested negative for alcohol, while the pilot-in-command tested non-negative for psychoactive substances in initial and laboratory tests.
Air India said it will cooperate with the investigation and take action if safety, fitness or regulatory requirements were breached.
- Who
- Air India, its pilots and the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau are involved.
- What
- Air India began voluntary testing of all its pilots after flight AI-2379 experienced a triple-hydraulic-system failure and the pilot-in-command had non-negative psychoactive-substance test results.
- When
- The flight incident occurred on August 4; Air India announced the testing on September 4, 2026.
- Where
- Flight AI-2379 was traveling from Phuket to Delhi.
- Why
- Air India said the testing is an additional precaution to reinforce safety while technical and medical inquiries continue.
- Airline
- Air India
- Flight
- AI-2379, traveling from Phuket to Delhi
- Incident date
- August 4
- Technical problem
- A brief drop occurred in all three hydraulic systems
- Reported impact
- Twenty-four people were injured and sections of the cabin interior were damaged
- Alcohol testing
- Both pilots tested negative in post-flight breath-analyser tests
- Additional measure
- Voluntary testing of 100% of Air India's pilots
