Now Reading: Air India Phuket pilot tests positive for marijuana in second test
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Air India Phuket pilot tests positive for marijuana in second test
The pilot-in-command of the Air India Phuket-Delhi flight that experienced a sudden altitude drop on August 4 has tested positive for marijuana in a second dope test, Times Now reports quoting sources.…
The Story in Brief
The pilot-in-command of the Air India Phuket-Delhi flight that experienced a sudden altitude drop on August 4 has tested positive for marijuana in a second dope test, Times Now reports quoting sources. The civil aviation ministry had earlier said initial screening required further analysis. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau is probing the incident with help from French agency BEA and Aibus. Under DGCA rules, a confirmatory positive test can lead to de-addiction, licence suspension, or cancellation. The regulator mandates random tests on at least 10 per cent of flight crew annually.
The Indian Opinion
The news that a pilot tested positive for marijuana after a mid-air scare is serious, but not yet proof of impairment. India's testing protocol is stringent: ground first, confirm later. The real test is whether the system works, the pilot must now undergo de-addiction, and the AAIB probe will determine if drugs or technical glitches caused the altitude drop. Blaming Thailand's legal marijuana misses the point; the question is compliance and enforcement within Indian aviation.
Sources (4): timesofindia.indiatimes.com, indiatvnews.com, timesnownews.com, timesnownews.com (2)
This story was synthesised by AI from the 4 sources linked above.
Updated: this story now draws on 4 sources.
