2 more Air India pilots fail preliminary drug test after Phuket incident

Two more Air India pilots have failed the preliminary drug test ordered by the airline following the incident involving a Phuket-Delhi flight, sources said. The final test results are awaited, and both pilots have been de-rostered in the meantime.

The airline ordered drug testing for all its pilots after the pilot-in-command of the Phuket-Delhi flight failed two urine tests conducted after the aircraft landed. Marijuana was detected in his system.

Over 300 pilots tested so far

More than 300 Air India pilots have undergone the screening process so far, with final drug test results generally taking 24 to 48 hours, according to sources cited by NDTV.

The airline's decision to test its pilots followed the Phuket-Delhi incident, in which several passengers were injured after the Airbus A320neo experienced a sudden drop.

A cabin crew member on the flight was also believed to have submitted a complaint alleging that the pilot had earlier smoked "pot".

Flight suffered sudden loss of control

The aircraft reportedly dropped around 300 feet after multiple failures involving its three hydraulic systems. During the incident, key flight control surfaces, including the elevators and ailerons, lost control simultaneously for about four seconds.

The spoilers were also affected by the hydraulic failure.

Hydraulic systems are essential for operating several flight controls. Elevators control the aircraft's pitch, while ailerons control its roll. Spoilers reduce lift and increase drag, helping the aircraft descend or slow down.

The sudden loss of control had initially been reported as being linked to turbulence. However, data from the aircraft's system logs later provided greater clarity on the incident.

Air India expands testing under new SOP

Following the incident, Air India introduced drug testing of all pilots as part of a new standard operating procedure.

The airline had earlier maintained that it regularly tests crew members for drugs in accordance with civil aviation regulations and that such testing was not introduced in response to any particular flight or operational incident.

The latest preliminary test results have added to scrutiny around crew drug screening, while the final results for the two pilots remain awaited.