Archive · 9 Aug 2026
AAIB Probes Air India Turbulence; Pilot's Confirmatory Drug Test Awaited
An airplane was flying from Phuket to Delhi.
Suddenly, the plane dropped down about 300 feet in the sky.
That is a big drop, and it can be very scary.
Some passengers and crew members on the plane got hurt.
The plane did recover and landed safely in Delhi.
There were 137 passengers and 8 crew members on board.
After the flight, the main pilot took a test to check for drugs.
The first test showed something that needed a second, more careful test.
Now everyone is waiting to see what the final test says.
A special safety team called the AAIB is looking into what happened, and both pilots are not flying until the investigation is finished.
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has taken over the investigation into the serious turbulence incident on Air India flight AI2379 (Phuket–Delhi) from the DGCA.
The Airbus A320 (registration VT-EXO) suddenly lost about 300 feet of altitude during cruise before stabilizing and landing safely in Delhi on August 4.
Official figures put the flight at 137 passengers, including three infants, and eight crew members, though one report cites 145 people on board.
The Pilot in Command's initial psychoactive substance screening indicated a result requiring confirmatory testing; the final laboratory report is awaited.
Both flight crew members have been taken off roster by the DGCA pending the investigation and confirmatory test results.
- Who
- The Pilot in Command and co-pilot of Air India flight AI2379, the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA), the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), and Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu.
- What
- A sudden loss of about 300 feet of altitude during cruise that injured passengers and crew, followed by a psychoactive substance screening of the Pilot in Command and transfer of the investigation to the AAIB.
- When
- On August 4, shortly before the aircraft landed in Delhi; the ministry announced the AAIB handover on Sunday.
- Where
- On Air India flight AI2379 flying from Phuket to Delhi, shortly before landing at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport.
- Why
- To investigate the serious incident and determine whether the Pilot in Command's use of psychoactive substances was a factor, in line with aviation safety procedures.
Media Reports of Positive Dope Test
Official Position: Confirmation Pending
Pilot's psychoactive substance screening result
Media Reports of Positive Dope Test
Some media reports and sources described the Pilot in Command as having tested positive in the initial post-arrival dope test.
Official Position: Confirmation Pending
The Ministry of Civil Aviation said the initial screening only indicated a result requiring confirmatory testing, should not be treated as a confirmed positive, and the final laboratory report is awaited.
- Airline
- Air India
- Flight
- AI2379 (Airbus A320, registration VT-EXO)
- Route
- Phuket (Thailand) to Delhi (India)
- Date of incident
- August 4
- Incident
- Sudden loss of approximately 300 feet of altitude during cruise; aircraft stabilized and landed safely at Delhi airport
- Passengers and crew
- 137 passengers (including 3 infants) and 8 crew members (2 pilots, 6 cabin crew) per official figures; one report cites 145 people on board
- Injuries
- Several passengers and cabin crew injured; around 17 people reportedly admitted to hospital, including four crew members; two crew with spinal injuries treated at Fortis hospital
- Pilot status
- Initial psychoactive substance screening of the Pilot in Command flagged for confirmatory testing; final report awaited; both pilots off roster
Sources
Air India Phuket–Delhi Flight Pilot Second Psychoactive Substance Test Result Awaited, AAIB Takes Over Case
AAIB Probe Launched Into Air India Turbulence Incident Following Pilot's Non-Negative Drug Test
Air India Phuket-Delhi turbulence incident: AAIB launches probe, pilots taken off roster pending drug test results
