Air India captain undergoes further testing after initial psychoactive substance screening
An Air India captain has been subjected to additional laboratory testing after an initial screening following a serious in-flight incident indicated a result requiring confirmation, India's civil aviation ministry said on Sunday.
The pilot was commanding an Air India A320 travelling from Phuket to New Delhi on August 4 when the aircraft unexpectedly lost around 300 feet of altitude during cruise. The aircraft subsequently stabilised and landed safely in New Delhi.
Initial screening requires laboratory confirmation
Following the incident, both members of the flight crew underwent psychoactive substance screening in accordance with standard aviation procedures.
The ministry said the initial test involving the captain produced a result that requires confirmatory laboratory analysis. A sample has been sent to an authorised laboratory, with the final result still pending.
Authorities have not identified the substance indicated by the preliminary screening.
The initial result therefore does not establish that the pilot had consumed or was impaired by a prohibited substance.
Both pilots removed from duty
India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has temporarily taken both crew members off the flight roster while the investigation continues.
The incident has formally been classified as a serious incident and is being examined by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau.
Investigators will assess the circumstances surrounding the unexpected altitude change as well as other factors relevant to the flight.
Air India says results were not shared with airline
Air India confirmed that post-flight screening had been conducted but said it had not received the test results from the authorities.
The airline said its crew members are subject to regular drug testing under applicable civil aviation regulations and that it would continue cooperating with the investigation.
The distinction between the preliminary screening and the pending laboratory analysis is significant, as the final test will determine whether the initial result is confirmed.
Broader scrutiny of India's aviation sector
The episode comes as India's aviation industry faces increased regulatory attention following a series of safety investigations and reviews.
For Air India, the investigation adds another layer of scrutiny as authorities examine both operational and crew-related aspects of an incident that ended safely but involved an unexpected loss of altitude.
Until the laboratory report and wider investigation are completed, no definitive conclusion can be drawn about the cause of the incident or the significance of the captain's preliminary screening result.
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