File photo for representational purposes only.
| Photo Credit: Reuters
Air India on Friday (September 4, 2026) sacked the pilot-in-command (PIC) of a Delhi-Phuket flight for testing positive for psychoactive substance. The flight momentarily lost altitude on August 4, injuring 24 passengers.The decision comes in the wake of the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau’s (AAIB) preliminary report recommending that the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) take action against the pilot on priority.“It has been observed that the PIC was found non-negative for psychoactive substance in the confirmatory test. The confirmation of use of psychoactive substance is a serious concern and AAIB recommends appropriate actions by DGCA on priority,” the interim report read. The final report could take up to a year or more.Technical failureThe report stated that during the brief loss of altitude, all three hydraulic systems failed, the autopilot disengaged and the stall warning came on for two seconds. A stall warning is triggered when the aircraft cannot generate enough lift or force to stay airborne.“Initially, it gained 372 ft and fell by 292 ft from its assigned FL (flight level) 360 during the event,” the report said.The report further stated that a detailed investigation into the technical aspects was under way.The co-pilot, who was manning the controls at the time, responded quickly. As the hydraulic systems recovered, flight operations returned to normal.As the aircraft was at cruising altitude, the seatbelt signs were off, which resulted in passengers and crew members sustaining injuries, the report noted.The aircraft was damaged at several points inside the cabin, including cracked or dislodged ceiling panels, bent or broken handrails, and damaged emergency exit and overhead-bin components. One lavatory commode came off, while a crew seat and other components near the rear doors were also damaged. Published - September 04, 2026 07:33 pm IST
