Air India on Friday, 4 September terminated the employment of a pilot-in-command after he tested positive for a psychoactive substance in a confirmatory laboratory examination, following a serious in-flight emergency aboard a Phuket-to-Delhi service. The airline described the action as consistent with its zero-tolerance policy on safety and regulatory violations.

What the Airline Said

'Safety remains Air India's highest priority. The pilot-in-command of the Phuket-Delhi flight tested positive for a psychoactive substance. In line with Air India's zero-tolerance approach to violation of safety, fitness or regulatory requirements, the pilot's employment has been terminated with immediate effect,' an Air India spokesperson said.

The termination came hours after the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) released a preliminary report flagging the positive test result as a serious concern, and recommending that the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) take appropriate action on priority.

What the AAIB Report Found

According to the AAIB preliminary report, the pilot-in-command of Air India flight AI-2379 — operating from Phuket to Delhi on 4 August — tested positive for a psychoactive substance in both the initial screening and a subsequent confirmatory laboratory test. Both pilots underwent post-flight medical screening in Delhi after the incident.

While breathalyser tests for both crew members returned satisfactory results, the psychoactive substance detection test was non-negative for the pilot-in-command. 'The confirmatory test report of PIC was found non-negative whereas the sample of the Co-Pilot was found negative in both the tests,' the AAIB report stated. Blood samples of both crew members were sent to a pathological laboratory for the confirmatory examination.

The In-Flight Incident

The Airbus A320 operating as AI-2379 suffered a loss of all three hydraulic systems while cruising at 36,000 feet over Odisha. The aircraft climbed 372 feet above its assigned altitude before descending 292 feet, an event investigators described as an altitude upset during the cruise phase.

There were 145 people on board — 137 passengers, six cabin crew members, and two pilots. At least 20 passengers and four crew members sustained injuries in the incident. The AAIB noted that no discrepancies were reported during the pre-flight walk-around inspection at Phuket, apart from an already-invoked Minimum Equipment List (MEL) item. Detailed investigations into technical and other aspects are continuing.

Regulatory and Safety Implications

The DGCA had been urged by the AAIB to act on the findings as a priority. Air India's swift termination of the pilot signals the airline's intent to demonstrate regulatory compliance amid heightened scrutiny of India's aviation safety record. Notably, this incident comes at a time when Indian carriers are under sustained pressure from global regulators and domestic watchdogs to tighten crew fitness protocols.

The AAIB has indicated that its investigation into the technical causes of the hydraulic failure and other aspects of the occurrence remains ongoing. Further findings are expected as the probe progresses.