New Delhi: The captain of the 4 August Phuket-Delhi plane that experienced a sudden loss of altitude, leaving some passengers and crew members injured, has likely failed an initial post-flight dope test, but a confirmatory report is awaited, sources said on Sunday.
Until the confirmatory result is released, the initial screening result does not establish the nature of the substance detected or whether the pilot was impaired while operating the flight.
The initial screening was conducted by staff at the Delhi airport on the directions of the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), which functions under the Ministry of Civil Aviation. The AAIB is authorised to order such tests following aviation accidents and serious incidents.
What happened on 4 August has been classified as a serious incident and is under investigation by the AAIB. Both pilots have been taken off the roster by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) pending the investigation and completion of the prescribed process.
In a statement, Air India neither confirmed nor denied the reported development.
“We are aware that a post-flight screening test was conducted on the pilots in accordance with applicable protocols. However, the results of the test have not been shared with Air India, and we are therefore not in a position to comment on any findings.
“Air India undertakes regular drug testing of crew members in compliance with civil aviation regulations, independent of any specific flight or operational incident. We will continue to cooperate with the relevant authorities as required,” the airline said.
According to the Ministry of Civil Aviation, the Air India A320, VT-EXO, operating flight AI2379 from Phuket to Delhi on 4 August, experienced a sudden loss of altitude of approximately 300 feet during cruise. The aircraft subsequently stabilised and landed safely in Delhi.
A few passengers and cabin crew members were injured during the incident. The aircraft was carrying 137 passengers, including three infants, and eight crew members. There were two pilots and six cabin crew members.
Sudden loss of altitude during cruise and injuries on board M/s Air India A320 aircraft VT-EXO operating flight AI2379 from Phuket to Delhi on 04.08.2026.https://t.co/yFSgQfhIHe@RamMNK @mohol_murlidhar @samirsinha69 @MoCA_GoI @DGCAIndia @PIB_India
— M/o Civil Aviation, India (@Pib_MoCA) August 9, 2026
The ministry said that as part of the standard procedure following the incident, both pilots underwent psychoactive substance screening. The screening of the pilot-in-command indicated a result requiring confirmatory testing. The samples were subsequently sent to a designated laboratory for analysis, with the final report awaited.
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The many questions
Several questions surrounding the incident, including the circumstances that led to the sudden altitude loss, remain unanswered.
Captain CS Randhawa of the Federation of Indian Pilots said the incident appeared to have occurred amid severe turbulence, but several aspects would have to be established through the investigation.
“Was the seatbelt sign ‘on’ or ‘off’? How many hours before landing did this happen? The data is missing as of now. What was the weather? Did the pilot take a deviation? Nothing is answered,” Randhawa told ThePrint Sunday.
He said severe turbulence could result in substantial altitude changes.
“In severe turbulence, you can lose even 3,000 feet. There are several questions which are unanswered. Maybe it was a medicine or some workout drug; we cannot comment as of now. Let the results come in,” he said. Though he added that if it was a turbulent patch, the pilot could have asked for a safer deviation.
Former pilot Amit Singh described the reported altitude loss as highly unusual, saying the circumstances surrounding the event need to be examined.
He also questioned why the crew had asked passengers not to make videos following the incident, saying it raised questions about what happened on board.
“Why was the crew asking the passengers not to make videos? If it was technical, the pilot is blameless. There are several unanswered questions at this point,” he told ThePrint.
Sources told ThePrint the investigation is expected to establish the weather conditions at the time of the incident, whether the seatbelt sign was illuminated, whether the crew had received any turbulence warnings, whether any deviation was made, and what the aircraft and cockpit data show in the moments before and during the altitude loss.
(Edited by Ajeet Tiwari)