Air India pilot undergoes confirmatory drug testing after turbulence incident caused 300-foot altitude loss

Aug 9, 2026

An Air India Airbus A320 operating flight AI2379 from Phuket to Delhi suffered a sudden 300-foot altitude drop during severe turbulence over Odisha on August 4, 2026, injuring at least 17 passengers and crew. Following the incident, the pilot-in-command returned a non-negative post-flight screening result for psychoactive substances. While the sample has been sent for confirmatory laboratory testing, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation has taken both pilots off the flying roster pending a formal investigation.

Phuket-Delhi turbulence incident

▪The Air India flight AI2379 altitude drop occurred during severe turbulence over Odisha while the aircraft was en route from Phuket to New Delhi.
▪Air India flight AI2379, an Airbus A320 carrying 137 passengers and eight crew members, experienced a sudden 300-foot altitude loss during cruise on August 4, 2026.

Pilot drug screening results

▪Air India stated on August 9, 2026, that the post-flight drug screening results had not yet been shared with the airline by the authorities.
▪The pilot-in-command of Air India flight AI2379 returned a non-negative result for psychoactive substances during a mandatory post-flight screening in Delhi.

Confirmatory laboratory testing

▪The pilot-in-command's screening sample was sent to a designated laboratory for confirmatory analysis to verify the initial psychoactive substance result.
▪Federation of Indian Pilots president Captain CS Randhawa noted that self-medication with painkillers containing morphine can trigger a positive result on a dope test.

DGCA investigation procedures

▪The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau formally classified the Air India flight AI2379 altitude loss as a serious incident and initiated an investigation.
▪Under Directorate General of Civil Aviation rules, a pilot testing positive for psychoactive substances for the first time must be referred for de-addiction and rehabilitation.
▪The Directorate General of Civil Aviation rules mandate a three-year licence suspension for a second drug offense and complete licence cancellation for a third offense.

Passenger crew injuries

▪Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu stated that two cabin crew members sustained spinal and neck injuries during the five-minute turbulence event.
▪The sudden altitude drop on Air India flight AI2379 injured at least 17 people, including 13 passengers and four cabin crew members.

Pilots removed from roster

▪The Directorate General of Civil Aviation removed both pilots of Air India flight AI2379 from the flying roster pending the outcome of the investigation.
▪The pilot-in-command of Air India flight AI2379, reported to be in his thirties, has been temporarily grounded following the non-negative screening result.