Now Reading: Air India pilot fails dope test after severe turbulence
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Air India pilot fails dope test after severe turbulence
The pilot of an Air India flight from Phuket to Delhi on August 4 has tested non-negative for psychoactive substances in a preliminary dope test, the aviation ministry confirmed on Sunday. The…
The Story in Brief
The pilot of an Air India flight from Phuket to Delhi on August 4 has tested non-negative for psychoactive substances in a preliminary dope test, the aviation ministry confirmed on Sunday. The Airbus A320, flight AI 2379, experienced a sudden loss of altitude of about 300 feet, injuring multiple passengers and cabin crew before landing safely in Delhi. Both pilots have been taken off flying duty by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) pending investigation. Samples from the pilot-in-command have been sent for confirmatory analysis at a designated laboratory, and the final report is awaited. The ministry has classified the incident as serious and handed it over to the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB). The DGCA's standard procedures require immediate removal from safety-sensitive duties for any crew member with a non-negative screening result.
The Indian Opinion
The media frenzy around this incident risks conflating two separate issues: severe turbulence and a potential substance abuse case. Sensational headlines suggesting a pilot was 'high' while flying a plane are premature before confirmatory tests. The DGCA's swift grounding of both pilots shows the system works. But the real question must be about chronic underreporting of in-flight turbulence and whether crew are pressured to avoid reporting such events. The confirmatory test result, due shortly, will settle whether this is a story about air safety protocols or a lone violation.
Sources (2): timesnownews.com, timesofindia.indiatimes.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above.
Updated: this story now draws on 2 sources.
