Air India has terminated the employment of the pilot-in-command of its Phuket–Delhi flight after a confirmatory test found him positive for a psychoactive substance. The action follows a preliminary investigation into the August 4 incident, when the Airbus A320 suddenly lost around 300 feet of altitude at 36,000 feet, leaving 24 passengers and crew members injured.
The AAIB report found that the aircraft experienced a near-simultaneous loss of all three hydraulic systems, causing the autopilot to disconnect and triggering a brief stall warning. However, the preliminary findings did not establish that substance use caused the hydraulic failure or the subsequent altitude loss.
Air India said the termination reflects its zero-tolerance approach to violations involving safety, fitness and regulatory requirements. The airline has also initiated voluntary drug testing for its pilots, while the AAIB has recommended preventive measures by the DGCA against psychoactive substance abuse among flight crew.