Air India Pilot Tests Positive For Marijuana After Plane Plunges 91m, Airline Orders Checks For All Pilots
An Air India captain has reportedly tested positive for marijuana following a dramatic mid-air incident in which an Airbus A320neo suddenly lost about 91m of altitude, prompting the airline to introduce mandatory substance screening for all its pilots.
The incident occurred on 4 August on Air India flight AI2379, travelling from Phuket, Thailand, to New Delhi. The aircraft was carrying 137 passengers and eight crew members when it experienced a sudden altitude drop while cruising over India. At least 24 people were injured, although the plane eventually landed safely in Delhi.
Reports about the captain’s test have since added another layer to an already serious aviation investigation. A confirmatory test reportedly detected marijuana, but Air India has said the results have not been formally shared with the airline. Investigators have also stressed that the circumstances surrounding the incident remain under examination.
Air India Orders Mandatory Testing For All Pilots
Following the reports, Air India announced that all of its pilots would undergo mandatory screening for prohibited substances and medications. The expanded programme goes significantly beyond India’s existing requirement for airlines to randomly test at least 10 per cent of flight crew each year.
The new screening applies to pilots across Air India and its budget subsidiary, Air India Express. Testing can take place during training, after flights and at designated locations, including pilot bases. The airline said the move was intended to strengthen safety standards and reassure passengers following the incident.
The captain’s positive result has nevertheless attracted considerable attention because of its timing. The test was conducted after the aircraft experienced the sudden loss of altitude, leading to questions about whether the pilot’s condition played any role in what happened.
However, a positive marijuana test does not by itself establish that a person was impaired at the time of an incident. Marijuana metabolites can remain detectable after previous use, meaning investigators would need to consider the complete medical, toxicological and operational evidence before determining whether the substance had any connection to the flight.
Airbus Finds Possible Hydraulic System Problem
The investigation has also uncovered a potentially significant technical factor. Airbus’ preliminary analysis found that the aircraft temporarily lost hydraulic pressure across all three hydraulic systems, causing key flight controls to become unresponsive for several seconds.
According to the analysis, the aircraft’s elevators and ailerons were briefly affected before the hydraulic systems recovered. Airbus has requested further inspections of the hydraulic systems, sensors and wiring as investigators work to establish whether there was an actual system failure or another technical issue.
This means investigators are examining multiple possible contributing factors rather than simply attributing the altitude loss to the captain’s drug test. India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau is reviewing flight data, maintenance records and statements from the pilots, with Airbus and France’s BEA assisting the investigation.
Both pilots have reportedly been removed from flying duties while the investigation continues. Authorities have urged the public and media not to draw premature conclusions before all available evidence has been analysed.
Incident Adds To Air India’s Growing Safety Scrutiny
The latest incident comes at a difficult time for Air India, which has been undergoing a major operational overhaul following several setbacks.
The airline was already facing intense scrutiny after the fatal crash of an Air India Boeing 787 shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad in June 2025. That disaster killed almost everyone on board as well as people on the ground, becoming one of the most serious events in the airline’s recent history.
The Phuket-to-Delhi incident is considerably different, as the aircraft landed safely despite the sudden altitude loss. Nevertheless, the combination of injuries, a major technical investigation and reports surrounding the captain’s drug screening has placed renewed attention on pilot safety, aviation regulations and Air India’s internal procedures.
For passengers, the most important question is now whether the sudden 91m plunge was caused by the aircraft’s hydraulic problems, pilot actions, another technical fault or a combination of factors.
Until the investigation is completed, there is no confirmed evidence that the captain’s reported marijuana result caused the aircraft to lose altitude. The expanded testing programme does, however, signal that Air India is taking the concerns surrounding pilot fitness and prohibited substances seriously as it attempts to rebuild confidence in its airline operations.