Air India News: 2 More Pilots Fail Preliminary Drug Test After Phuket Flight Incident
Air India News
Two more Air India pilots have reportedly failed to clear the airline’s preliminary drug test following the serious incident involving a Phuket-Delhi flight. The final confirmatory test results are still awaited, while both pilots have reportedly been removed from flight duties for the time being.
The development comes after Air India ordered drug testing for all its pilots following the Phuket-Delhi flight incident. The move was taken after the pilot-in-command of the flight reportedly tested positive for marijuana during mandatory screening.
According to the available information, the two additional pilots did not clear their first-stage drug screening. Their samples will undergo further testing, and the final results are expected to provide confirmation.
Until the final reports are available, the two pilots have been de-rostered, meaning they will not operate flights. This step allows the airline to maintain safety standards while the testing process is completed.
More than 300 Air India pilots have reportedly gone through the drug-testing process so far. Sources said that final test results can usually take around 24 to 48 hours.
The airline introduced wider testing after the Phuket-Delhi flight incident raised concerns about pilot fitness and aviation safety. The Pilot-in-Command of the flight had reportedly failed two urine tests conducted after the aircraft landed, with marijuana detected in the sample.
A cabin crew member on the flight was also believed to have raised a complaint alleging that the pilot had previously smoked cannabis. The allegations and test results have added to the scrutiny surrounding the incident.
However, a preliminary drug test does not by itself establish a final finding. The confirmatory laboratory test is important to determine whether the initial result is accurate.
The flight involved an Airbus A320neo that experienced a sudden loss of altitude. The aircraft reportedly dropped around 300 feet, leaving several passengers and crew members injured.
The incident was linked in the available report to a hydraulic failure that resulted in the temporary loss of control of several key flight-control surfaces. The elevators and ailerons reportedly lost control simultaneously for several seconds, while the spoilers were also affected.
The latest drug-test results are likely to add another aspect to the investigation into the incident. Air India is continuing its testing programme as authorities and the airline examine the circumstances surrounding the Phuket-Delhi flight.
The final laboratory results of the two newly identified cases are awaited, and further action will depend on those findings.
Ajeet Yadav is an aviation enthusiast covering airline news, airports, aircraft, and industry developments through well-researched and reliable reporting.
