Air India pilot who tested positive for marijuana says he had sleep issues
The pilot-in-command (PIC) of an Air India Phuket-Delhi flight that plunged 300 feet last week was on medication over “sleep difficulty”, people familiar with the matter told HT on Wednesday. (A passenger onboard)The development came a day after a confirmatory drug test said the PIC…
The pilot-in-command (PIC) of an Air India Phuket-Delhi flight that plunged 300 feet last week was on medication over “sleep difficulty”, people familiar with the matter told HT on Wednesday. (A passenger onboard)The development came a day after a confirmatory drug test said the.
The latest revelation was made by the PIC before a team of the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) during the course of investigation, the people cited above said. There was no immediate comment from Air India at the time of filing this report.
What Happened
On August 4, the Phuket-Delhi flight AI2379, an Airbus A320neo, lost 300 feet of altitude while cruising. The airline, in an initial statement, blamed the drop on turbulence.
The AAIB is investigating the circumstances surrounding the occurrence, while the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is responsible for regulatory action based on the outcome of the investigation and the prescribed testing process.
The incident, initially under investigation by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), was referred to the AAIB after being classified as a “serious” incident.
To be sure, it is not clear when the marijuana was ingested.
Key Details
The pilot in question has tested positive in the confirmatory test.
The PIC’s preliminary drug test had returned a “non-negative” – an inconclusive finding – according to a government release on Sunday.
As part of prescribed procedures, both pilots were checked for psychoactive substances after the flight landed in Delhi.
However, the Press Information Bureau (PIB) in a statement on Tuesday increased the number of injured to 24 – four cabin crew members and 20 passengers.
Why It Matters
The government, in an earlier statement, said 14 passengers on board the flight – which was carrying 137 passengers, six cabin crew and two pilots – were injured.
What Reports Say
Coverage of the story so far points to:
Continued reporting by Hindustan Times as more details emerge
