The pilot-in-command of an Air India flight from Phuket to Delhi has reportedly tested positive for drugs following an incident in which the aircraft experienced an approximately 300-foot altitude drop on August 4. According to News18, the reported positive result came from a confirmatory test conducted after the flight. The Airbus A320, carrying 137 passengers — including three infants — and eight crew members, later stabilized and landed safely in Delhi. Some passengers and cabin crew members reportedly sustained injuries.
Both pilots underwent mandatory psychoactive substance screening following the incident. A confirmed positive result is typically reviewed by a Medical Review Officer, who assesses whether there is a legitimate medical explanation, such as the use of an authorized prescription medication. If no acceptable explanation is established, the result could be treated as a regulatory violation and lead to the pilot being removed from flying duties while further procedures are carried out.
The incident itself remains separate from the drug-testing process. A positive test does not by itself establish that substance use caused the aircraft’s altitude loss. Aviation investigators would need to determine what caused the incident and whether impairment, aircraft systems, weather, crew actions or other factors played a role. Regulators could also examine Air India’s drug and alcohol management procedures as part of the broader investigation.
The pilot could face significant professional consequences if the reported positive result is formally upheld under applicable aviation regulations. However, any decision on employment, licensing or potential legal action would depend on the findings of regulatory and accident investigations. The cause of the altitude drop has not been established solely by the reported drug-test result.
