Now Reading: Air India pilot who failed dope test says he took prescribed medication
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Air India pilot who failed dope test says he took prescribed medication
Air India pilot who failed dope test says he took prescribed medication
The pilot-in-command of the Phuket-Delhi Air India flight that plunged 300 feet last week has told investigators he was on prescribed medication for sleep difficulty, not recreational drugs, people familiar with the…
The Story in Brief
The pilot-in-command of the Phuket-Delhi Air India flight that plunged 300 feet last week has told investigators he was on prescribed medication for sleep difficulty, not recreational drugs, people familiar with the matter told Hindustan Times. The confirmatory drug test found marijuana in his system, contradicting his claim. The co-pilot landed the Airbus A320 safely after 20 passengers and four crew were injured when the aircraft entered a 'negative G' state.
The civil aviation ministry has summoned Air India's outgoing CEO, while DGCA is reviewing rules for testing pilots. The AAIB is investigating whether technical snags or the pilot's behaviour caused the incident. The PIC and co-pilot have been off-rostered pending the probe.
The Indian Opinion
This story is already being framed as a simple case of a 'high' pilot endangering lives. But the pilot's claim of prescribed medication for sleep difficulty is a legitimate line of inquiry, not a cover-up. The real test is whether DGCA distinguishes between recreational abuse and side effects of prescribed drugs. Until the AAIB confirms whether the medication could explain the positive test, it is unfair to jump to conclusions. The agency must also clarify if its banned-substances list accounts for such scenarios.
Sources (2): hr.economictimes.indiatimes.com, hindustantimes.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above.
