NEW DELHI, AUGUST 13: The Ministry of Civil Aviation has issued stern directions to Air India demanding strengthened operational oversight and heightened accountability regarding flight safety following a serious inflight occurrence. The directive follows confirmation that the pilot-in-command of an August 4 Phuket-Delhi flight tested positive for marijuana during post-flight medical evaluations.
The incident involved flight AI 2379, an Airbus A320 carrying 145 passengers and crew, which encountered a sudden 300-foot altitude drop over Odisha, resulting in injuries to 20 passengers and four cabin crew members. Investigating agencies are currently evaluating both technical data and crew conduct, with cabin crew reports alleging the commander exhibited erratic behavior and signs of impairment while in the flight deck.
“The investigation remains comprehensive and evidence-based, covering all technical, operational, medical, and human-factor aspects,” the Ministry of Civil Aviation declared in an official statement detailing the ongoing probe by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau.
The pilot asserted during initial inquiries that prescribed sleeping medication taken for personal reasons contributed to the screening result. In response to the episode, regulators have instructed the Directorate General of Civil Aviation to expand the scope of mandatory psychoactive substance testing while establishing clear guidelines to distinguish between legitimate therapeutic treatments and prohibited substance use.
Simultaneously, technical experts from Airbus alongside investigators from the French aviation authority BEA are assessing whether recorded cockpit alerts involving hydraulic systems and autopilot disengagement represented genuine mechanical faults or operational missteps.
