New Delhi: Air India has terminated the employment of the pilot in command of its Phuket to Delhi flight after a post incident drug test confirmed the presence of a psychoactive substance. The decision follows an altitude upset involving the aircraft on August 4 that left 24 passengers injured.
The Tata owned airline said it maintains a strict zero tolerance policy towards violations involving flight safety, fitness and regulatory requirements. The pilot’s employment was terminated with immediate effect after the confirmatory test returned a positive result.
The Airbus A320 was carrying 145 people and was cruising at around 36,000 feet when it experienced a near simultaneous loss of all three hydraulic systems, according to the preliminary investigation. The technical failure was followed by an autopilot disconnect and a brief stall warning, after which the aircraft lost altitude.
At the time of the incident, the co pilot was operating the aircraft and attempted to stabilise the flight. The pilot in command subsequently took control as the aircraft experienced significant changes in altitude. The aircraft initially climbed by 372 feet before dropping around 292 feet from its assigned cruising level.
The flight later returned to normal operation and landed safely in Delhi. Both pilots underwent drug detection testing after landing. While the pilot in command tested positive, the co pilot received a negative result.
The preliminary investigation did not establish that the pilot’s drug test result caused or contributed to the hydraulic system failure or the aircraft’s temporary loss of altitude. A detailed investigation into the technical and operational aspects of the incident remains underway.
Air India said it continues to cooperate with the investigation and has begun voluntary testing of all its pilots as an additional safety measure. The airline also highlighted regular training, proficiency checks, medical examinations and other regulatory assessments undertaken by its flight crew.
