Air India Terminates Pilot After Positive Psychoactive Substance Test Following In-Flight Incident
Air India has terminated the employment of the pilot-in-command of a Phuket-Delhi flight after he tested positive for a psychoactive substance. This decision follows a preliminary report by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) into an incident on August 4, where the A320 aircraft, carrying 145 people, experienced a sudden loss of nearly 300 feet in altitude, injuring 24 passengers. The AAIB's report indicated that the flight control system detected a loss of pressure in all three hydraulic systems within four seconds while cruising at 36,000 feet. Although the hydraulic systems recovered quickly, the incident caused an autopilot disconnect, a brief stall warning, and an altitude upset. Post-flight medical checks, required because the flight originated outside India, revealed a non-negative result for a psychoactive substance in the pilot-in-command's screening, which was confirmed by a laboratory blood test. The co-pilot tested negative. Air India stated that the termination aligns with its ze... 
