An Air India pilot faces a confirmatory psychoactive substance test after a Phuket-to-Delhi flight suddenly lost around 300 feet during cruise. The incident injured passengers and crew.
The August 4 incident involved Air India flight AI2379, an Airbus A320 registered VT-EXO. It carried 137 passengers and eight crew members. The aircraft lost around 300 feet, or 91 metres, before the pilots stabilised it and continued safely to New Delhi.
Air India flight classified as serious incident
India’s civil aviation ministry said 17 passengers and crew suffered injuries during the episode. Eight passengers and four cabin crew members required hospital treatment after landing. Officials described their conditions as stable.
Both pilots then underwent the standard “psychoactive substance screening test” required after such an occurrence.
“The screening test in respect of the Pilot-in-Command (PIC) indicated a result requiring confirmatory testing,” the ministry said.
“Samples have accordingly been sent to the designated laboratory for confirmatory analysis, and the final report is awaited.”
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The ministry has not identified any substance that the initial screening may have indicated. The screening result does not amount to a confirmed positive finding.
Authorities classified the occurrence as a “Serious Incident”. India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau, or AAIB, has opened an investigation. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation also removed both pilots from the flying roster.
“Further action, as appropriate, will be taken based on the outcome of the investigation and confirmatory test results,” the ministry said.
Videos from the aftermath showed cabin baggage scattered across the aisle. Some injured passengers left the aircraft on stretchers.
Air India says test results not shared
Air India confirmed on Sunday that authorities conducted a “post-flight screening test” on both pilots. The airline said officials had not shared the results with the company. It therefore declined to comment on any findings.
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Air India also said it regularly tests crew members for drugs under civil aviation regulations. The carrier said it would continue cooperating with authorities.
Officials have not announced a final cause for the sudden altitude loss. The ministry also did not disclose what substance, if any, the initial screening indicated.
New CEO takes charge amid wider challenges
The incident adds to a difficult period for Air India. Tata Group took control of the airline in 2022 and launched a major overhaul. It ordered hundreds of aircraft and began upgrading the carrier’s ageing fleet. The airline has also faced aircraft delivery delays and disruption from airspace closures linked to the 2025 India-Pakistan conflict.
Air India suffered its biggest recent setback in June 2025. Flight 171, a London-bound Boeing 787 Dreamliner, crashed shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad. The disaster killed 241 of the 242 people on board and 19 people on the ground.
Air India appointed former Ethiopian Airlines chief Tewolde Gebremariam as CEO and managing director on August 5. The airline said his experience would support its continuing turnaround and expansion.
