The review follows a Phuket-Delhi flight that dropped 300 feet and injured 24 passengers and crew.
Dubai: India is reviewing its rules for testing pilots for psychoactive substances after an Air India flight from Phuket to Delhi suddenly lost around 300 feet in altitude, injuring 24 passengers and crew members.
The incident occurred on August 4 on Air India flight AI2379. The Airbus A320 was carrying 137 passengers, including three infants, and eight crew members when it experienced the sudden altitude change.
Twenty passengers and four cabin crew members were injured. The aircraft later stabilised and landed safely in Delhi.
The review comes after the pilot-in-command reportedly tested positive for marijuana during testing conducted after the incident. Investigators are also examining technical warnings recorded by the aircraft to determine what caused the sudden loss of altitude.
India Reviews Pilot Drug-Testing Rules
The Ministry of Civil Aviation has asked the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to examine how other countries conduct psychoactive-substance testing among aviation personnel.
The ministry is also assessing whether India’s existing system needs to be strengthened or revised, according to ministry sources cited by Indian media.
Both pilots underwent the required testing following the incident, according to the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau.
The Civil Aviation Ministry said the pilot-in-command’s initial screening produced a result that required confirmatory analysis. The sample was subsequently sent to a designated laboratory, where media reports said the confirmatory test returned positive for marijuana.
Both pilots were removed from the flying roster by the DGCA while the investigation and testing procedures continue.
What India’s Current Rules Say
Under the existing DGCA framework, aviation personnel who test positive for psychoactive substances are referred to a rehabilitation programme.
A second positive test can result in a three-year suspension of the individual’s licence, while a third violation can lead to licence cancellation.
The current review will examine whether these procedures and testing standards are adequate, particularly when an aviation incident is involved.
Investigators are continuing to assess the Air India flight incident, including the aircraft’s technical warnings and the circumstances surrounding the sudden loss of altitude. The findings will help determine whether operational, technical, or other factors contributed to the event.
Source: Gulf News
Read more news and follow us on Instagram.
AAIB likely to submit interim report on Air India Phuket-Delhi flight incident within a month.
