Air India has decided to conduct drug screening for all its pilots, and the process began on Wednesday, according to reports.
The move follows an incident on August 4 involving an Air India Airbus A320 operating from Phuket, Thailand, to Delhi with 137 passengers and eight crew members. Mid-flight, the aircraft reportedly lost control and descended rapidly by about 300 feet, leaving around 20 passengers injured.
An investigation by the aircraft accident inquiry agency is under way. In the meantime, it has emerged that the flight’s captain tested positive for cannabis after the aircraft landed in Delhi.
Passengers said the captain was found slumped inside the cockpit during the episode, and was reportedly in a dishevelled state. Officials also had to assist him during the medical examination, as he was unable to stand on his own to provide a urine sample.
Following the episode and a complaint from a crew member alleging cannabis use before departure from Phuket, Air India and Air India Express have decided to screen all pilots for drugs.
