The pilot-in-command (PIC) of an Air India Phuket-Delhi flight that plunged 300 feet last week was taking medication for "sleep difficulty", people familiar with the matter said. The development comes a day after a confirmatory drug test found that the PIC had tested positive for marijuana during a post-flight screening, raising questions over passenger safety.
The latest revelation was made by the PIC before a team of the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) during the course of its investigation, the people cited above said.
"In his statement to the AAIB, the PIC said he was experiencing sleep difficulty over a preceding period related to personal circumstances for which he was prescribed medication by a family doctor," one of the persons said, seeking anonymity.
The person added that the pilot also claimed he had struggled to sleep during his layover. Air India had not immediately commented on the matter at the time of filing the report.
On August 4, Air India flight AI2379, an Airbus A320neo operating from Phuket to Delhi, lost 300 feet of altitude while cruising. The airline initially attributed the drop to turbulence.
The flight was carrying 137 passengers, six cabin crew members and two pilots. The government initially said 14 passengers were injured, but the Press Information Bureau (PIB) later revised the figure to 24, including 20 passengers and four cabin crew members.
As part of prescribed procedures, both pilots underwent screening for psychoactive substances after the aircraft landed in Delhi. The PIC's preliminary drug test returned a "non-negative" result, which was considered inconclusive, according to a government release.
A central government official subsequently confirmed that the pilot tested positive for marijuana in the confirmatory test. However, it remains unclear when the substance was ingested.
Both pilots have been taken off roster pending the investigation.
The incident was initially investigated by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) but was later referred to the AAIB after being classified as a "serious" incident.
The AAIB is investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident, while the DGCA will be responsible for regulatory action based on the findings of the investigation and the prescribed testing process.
