Air India Phuket Flight Pilot Tested Positive For Psychoactive Substance: Probe Report

Air India Phuket Flight Pilot Tested Positive For Psychoactive Substance: Probe Report

A preliminary investigation into an Air India flight from Phuket to Delhi has revealed that the pilot-in-command tested positive for a psychoactive substance following a severe mid-air incident involving a triple hydraulic failure. The findings were detailed in a report by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB).

The aircraft, flight AI 2379, was an Airbus A320-251N (VT-EXO) carrying between 137 and 145 people on August 4, 2026. While cruising at Flight Level 360 over the Kolkata Flight Information Region, the plane experienced a rapid cascading failure of its flight control systems. At 04:02:43 UTC, the system detected a loss of pressure in the green hydraulic system; within four seconds, the blue and yellow systems also failed.

This total loss of hydraulic pressure caused the autopilot to disengage, triggered a continuous repetitive chime, and resulted in a stall warning that lasted for two seconds. The aircraft underwent a significant altitude upset, climbing 372 feet before plunging 292 feet from its assigned level.

The co-pilot, who was the pilot flying at the time, initially responded to the crisis before the 34-year-old pilot-in-command (PIC) took over the controls. The hydraulic systems recovered approximately ten seconds later, restoring normal function to the flight-control surfaces.

The sudden movement caused chaos inside the cabin, as seat-belt signs were off during the cruise. Passengers and crew were thrown across the aircraft, leading to extensive interior damage. This included broken emergency-exit handles and handrails, uprooted lavatory fixtures, damaged crew seats, and bent passenger-service units. Overhead ceiling panels from rows 5 to 29 were also cracked, and overhead-bin doors were damaged.

Upon landing at Indira Gandhi International Airport at 11:07 AM IST, a total of 24 people received medical treatment, comprising 20 passengers and four cabin crew members. While 20 of the injured were discharged after treatment for minor injuries, four people with serious injuries were hospitalized.

Despite the onboard injuries and systems failure, the flight crew decided against diverting to the nearest en-route airport and continued to Delhi, requesting medical priority from air traffic control.

Following the landing, both flight crew members passed breathalyzer tests for alcohol. However, subsequent screening using a psychoactive-substance detection kit returned a non-negative result for the PIC. This was later verified through confirmatory blood tests at a pathological laboratory, while the co-pilot tested negative.

The AAIB described the confirmed use of a psychoactive substance by the captain as a serious concern and recommended that the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) take appropriate actions on priority to address substance abuse among flight crews.

Investigators noted that the aircraft had been operating under an existing Minimum Equipment List (MEL) item, 29-23-01A, regarding its Power Transfer Unit (PTU), which had been invoked on July 28, 2026. No other discrepancies were recorded before the flight departed Phuket, and no adverse weather was reported at the time of the incident, though thunderstorms had been forecast for later.

The preliminary report does not establish a causal link between the captain's drug test result and the hydraulic failure or the altitude upset. The AAIB has not yet determined the root cause or contributory factors of the triple hydraulic failure.

The investigation continues. The AAIB has downloaded data from the cockpit voice recorder and digital flight data recorder for further analysis. Between August 13 and 15, technical experts from Airbus and France's Bureau of Enquiry and Analysis for Civil Aviation Safety (BEA) inspected the aircraft. Investigators have also collected hydraulic fluid samples, hydraulic components, fuel and oil samples, and maintenance records. Initial interviews with the crew, airline, airport operator, and medical personnel have been completed.