An Air India pilot tested positive for marijuana following a sudden altitude drop on a flight from Phuket to Delhi [1], [2].
The incident raises critical questions about cockpit safety protocols and the effectiveness of drug screening for flight crews. Because the event resulted in passenger injuries, the findings could trigger stricter regulatory oversight for Indian aviation.
Flight AI2379 [4], an Airbus A320 with registration VT-EXO [5], [6], experienced a sudden altitude drop of 300 feet [1] during its en-route segment on Aug. 4, 2024 [2]. The sudden descent caused injuries to 24 passengers [3].
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau is now probing the event. Investigators are examining technical and operational aspects of the flight, as well as human-factor contributors [7]. The pilot-in-command tested positive for marijuana approximately one week after the incident, around Aug. 11, 2024 [2].
Air India has not disclosed the identity of the pilot. The investigation aims to determine if the drug use directly contributed to the altitude drop or if technical failures played a primary role. The probe is examining the intersection of human performance and aircraft stability during the flight's journey from Thailand to India [1], [2].
“An Air India pilot tested positive for marijuana following a sudden altitude drop”
This incident highlights a potential gap in the real-time monitoring of pilot sobriety and fitness for duty. While technical failures can cause altitude drops, the presence of controlled substances in a pilot-in-command's system suggests a failure in pre-flight screening or a breach of aviation safety regulations. The outcome of the AAIB probe will likely determine if this was an isolated human-factor error or a systemic failure in airline drug-testing policies.
