Air India has terminated the employment of the pilot-in-command of a Phuket-Delhi flight after he tested positive for a psychoactive substance. The airline’s action followed the release of a preliminary report by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau that flagged the result as a serious concern.
The Incident on 4 August
On 4 August 2026, Air India flight AI2379, an Airbus A320 operating from Phuket to Delhi, experienced a sudden and brief altitude upset while cruising at approximately 36,000 feet. According to the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau’s preliminary findings, the aircraft recorded a loss of pressure in all three hydraulic systems within a short span of seconds. The autopilot disconnected, flight-control warnings activated, and a stall warning sounded.
The aircraft initially climbed several hundred feet above its assigned level before descending a similar amount. The abrupt movement caused injuries to passengers and cabin crew. Reports indicate that 24 people were hurt, with a smaller number sustaining more serious injuries that required hospital treatment. The event was later categorised as an accident because of its severity and impact.
Post-Flight Testing and Findings
After the aircraft landed in Delhi, both flight-crew members underwent standard breath-analyser tests, which returned satisfactory results. They were also subjected to psychoactive-substance detection tests. The sample from the pilot-in-command was found non-negative. Blood samples from both pilots were then sent to a laboratory for confirmatory testing. The confirmatory result for the pilot-in-command remained non-negative, while the co-pilot tested negative in both the initial and confirmatory examinations.
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau described the confirmation of psychoactive-substance use as a serious concern. In its preliminary report the bureau recommended that the Directorate General of Civil Aviation take appropriate action on priority to address the issue of psychoactive-substance abuse. The report did not establish any direct causal link between the positive test and the altitude upset. Technical aspects of the triple hydraulic failure remain under investigation, and a final report is expected in due course.
Air India’s Response
Hours after the preliminary report became public, Air India announced that the pilot-in-command’s employment had been terminated with immediate effect. In a statement the airline said safety remains its highest priority. It noted that the pilot-in-command of the Phuket-Delhi flight had tested positive for a psychoactive substance and that, in line with the carrier’s zero-tolerance approach to violations of safety, fitness or regulatory requirements, the pilot’s employment had been ended at once.
The swift decision underscores the airline’s stated policy of treating any breach of fitness or regulatory standards with the utmost seriousness, particularly when it involves operating crew.
Regulatory Context
Indian aviation regulations require flight crew to be free of psychoactive substances that could impair performance. Positive confirmatory tests typically trigger administrative and medical processes, including possible referral for assessment or rehabilitation in first-time cases under existing rules. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau’s explicit call for priority action by the regulator highlights the gravity attached to the finding in the context of an accident investigation.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation is expected to examine the matter further in light of the bureau’s recommendation. Separately, the technical investigation into why all three hydraulic systems lost pressure almost simultaneously continues. That inquiry will seek to determine whether the event stemmed from a system malfunction, maintenance issue, or other factors.
Broader Safety Implications
The combination of a significant technical anomaly and a positive substance test in the same event has drawn attention to two distinct but equally important areas of aviation safety. On the technical side, the near-simultaneous failure of multiple hydraulic systems on a modern airliner raises questions that investigators are working to answer. On the human-performance side, the confirmatory test result reinforces the need for robust testing regimes and clear consequences when standards are breached.
Airlines and regulators worldwide maintain strict policies on substance use precisely because even residual impairment can affect judgment, reaction time and decision-making in the cockpit. Air India’s decision to terminate employment reflects an institutional stance that prioritises the integrity of the operating environment over individual circumstances once a confirmatory positive result is established.
What Happens Next
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau will continue its detailed examination of the technical and operational aspects of the flight. The final report, when published, is expected to provide a more complete picture of the sequence of events and any contributing factors. In parallel, the civil aviation regulator will consider the bureau’s recommendation regarding psychoactive-substance controls.
For Air India the immediate step of ending the pilot’s employment closes one chapter while the broader safety and investigative processes remain open. The episode serves as a reminder that aviation safety rests on both the reliability of aircraft systems and the consistent fitness of the people who operate them. The airline has made clear that, in its view, any violation of those fitness requirements will be met with decisive action.
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