A recent preliminary investigation report by India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has uncovered alarming details regarding an Air India flight from Phuket to Delhi. The probe confirmed that the pilot-in-command tested positive for psychoactive substances following an incident where the aircraft suffered a complete hydraulic system failure and a severe altitude upset, resulting in injuries to 24 people.
Incident Details Emerge
The incident occurred on August 4, during Air India flight AI-2379, an Airbus A320-251N carrying 145 individuals. While cruising at Flight Level 360 over the Kolkata Flight Information Region, the aircraft experienced a rapid sequence of control system failures. At 04:02:43 UTC, the green hydraulic system failed, followed just four seconds later by the blue and yellow systems, leaving the aircraft without main hydraulic pressure.
This abrupt loss automatically disengaged the autopilot, triggered a continuous chime, and a two-second stall warning. The co-pilot, acting as Pilot Flying, initially tried to regain control before the 34-year-old Pilot-in-Command (PIC) took over. During this chaotic period, the aircraft ascended 372 feet before rapidly plunging 292 feet. Although the hydraulic systems recovered approximately ten seconds later, the sudden movements caused significant damage and injuries within the cabin.
With seatbelt signs off during cruise, passengers and crew were violently thrown. Overhead panels cracked, passenger service units bent, emergency exit handles broke, and a lavatory commode was uprooted. Despite the damage, the crew decided to continue to Delhi, requesting priority medical assistance upon arrival. Twenty passengers and four cabin crew members received treatment, with four individuals requiring prolonged hospitalization due to serious injuries.
Pilot Drug Test and Safety Recommendations
Upon landing, both flight crew members passed breath-analyzer tests for alcohol. However, subsequent screening with a psychoactive substance detection kit yielded a non-negative result for the Pilot-in-Command. Confirmatory laboratory tests on blood samples verified this result, while the co-pilot tested negative.
The AAIB has labeled the confirmation of psychoactive substance use as a "serious concern." Consequently, the bureau issued an urgent interim recommendation, urging the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to implement immediate and appropriate measures to prevent the abuse of psychoactive substances among flight crews. Technical investigators from France's BEA and Airbus have inspected the aircraft, retrieving hydraulic components and fluid samples for further lab testing. Flight recorders (CVR and DFDR) have also been retrieved as the comprehensive investigation continues.