Air India Pilot Removed From Duty After Drug Test Confirms Substance Use

Air India has removed a pilot from duty after a drug test confirmed the use of prohibited substances. The action came after an Air India Airbus A320 flying from Phuket, Thailand, suddenly descended by around 300 feet last month. The airline announced the decision on Friday, describing the matter as serious.

A preliminary report submitted by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said that three key hydraulic systems of the aircraft stopped functioning simultaneously before the sudden descent. The report also noted that no defects were found during the aircraft’s pre-flight inspection. The pilot’s confirmed substance use was highlighted as a serious concern, and the action against him followed within hours of the report being submitted.