An Air India Airbus A350 aircraft is on display at Wings India 2024 aviation expo held at Begumpet Airport in Hyderabad, India, on January 18, 2024. — Reuters
– Eight passengers and four cabin crew members were hospitalized following the incident.
– Both pilots were subjected to a “psychoactive substance screening test.”
– The Ministry classified the incident as a “Serious Incident.”
The Indian Civil Aviation Ministry announced on Sunday that a pilot involved in a flight that experienced a sudden drop during turbulence—resulting in injuries to 17 passengers and crew—is currently undergoing a confirmation test for psychoactive drugs.
The Airbus A320, operating from Phuket, Thailand, to New Delhi with 137 passengers and 8 crew members, lost approximately 300 feet (91 meters) on August 4 before stabilizing and completing a safe landing, the civil aviation authorities reported.
Upon landing in India’s capital, eight passengers and four crew members were admitted to hospitals, with their conditions described as stable. The pilots underwent the standard psychoactive substance screening test, which indicated a need for further confirmatory testing.
Samples have been sent to a designated laboratory for additional analysis, and the results are pending. The incident has been classified as a serious event, prompting an investigation by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB). Both pilots have been temporarily removed from their flying duties pending the investigation’s outcome.
Further actions or disciplinary measures will be determined based on the investigation results and confirmatory test outcomes.
Footage from the scene showed scattered cabin luggage across the aisle, and some of those injured were transported to the hospital on stretchers.
Earlier Sunday, Air India confirmed that a post-flight screening test was conducted on the pilots but did not disclose the results.
This incident marks a recent setback for the airline, which appointed a new executive on Wednesday. Since acquiring Air India in 2022, the Tata Group has launched an extensive modernization effort, including ordering hundreds of aircraft and updating its aging fleet.
While the airline has made progress in streamlining operations and integrating various aviation businesses, it continues to face challenges such as delays in aircraft deliveries and disruptions due to regional conflicts, particularly stemming from the India-Pakistan tensions in 2025.
The most significant blow to its reputation occurred in June 2025 when Flight 171, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner en route to London, crashed shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad, leading to the deaths of nearly all 242 onboard and 19 on the ground.
In an effort to turn things around, the airline has appointed Tewolde Gebremariam, the former CEO of Ethiopian Airlines, as its new CEO, hoping his industry experience will help stabilize and restore confidence in the carrier.
