The initial screening was conducted in Delhi after the Phuket-Delhi flight landed; Air India says it has not received the test results, while the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau and DGCA examine the turbulence incident.
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A post-flight dope screening of the captain who operated Air India flight AI2379 from Phuket to Delhi has reportedly returned a non-negative result for psychoactive substances, adding a new dimension to the investigation into the flight’s severe turbulence incident.
The flight, which operated on August 4, experienced a sudden loss of approximately 300 feet in altitude during cruise. The incident injured 17 people, including passengers and cabin crew members. The aircraft later landed safely in Delhi, where the pilots underwent mandatory post-arrival screening.
Sources said the captain, who is in his thirties, tested positive during an initial screening for psychoactive substances and was temporarily removed from flying duties. A second confirmatory test has been conducted, with samples sent to a certified laboratory. The final result is awaited. Air India said it was aware that a post-flight screening had taken place but had not received the findings. The airline said it was therefore not in a position to comment on the reported result.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation has said that the screening result requiring confirmation is being examined and that the incident has been handed over to the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau for investigation.
What happened on flight AI2379?
Air India flight AI2379 was operating from Phuket, Thailand, to New Delhi on August 4 when it encountered severe turbulence during cruise. The aircraft reportedly dropped around 300 feet in a short period. Passengers and crew members were thrown against seats and cabin fittings, resulting in injuries. Four cabin crew members were among those injured, according to reports.
The plane landed safely in Delhi, where medical personnel examined the injured passengers and crew. The incident was initially described as a turbulence-related event, but the sudden altitude loss prompted a formal aviation investigation. This story was also covered by The New IndianExpress.
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau, which operates under the Civil Aviation Ministry, directed the post-flight testing of the crew. Such screening is conducted to determine whether alcohol or psychoactive substances may have played a role in an aviation incident. The initial breathalyser tests of the pilots were reportedly negative. Blood and urine samples were also collected, and the initial test for one pilot returned a non-negative result.
It is important to distinguish between a screening result and a confirmed violation. An initial non-negative result does not by itself establish that the pilot was operating the flight under the influence of an illegal or prohibited substance. A certified laboratory must confirm the result, identify the substance and determine whether it breached aviation regulations.
How the dope test was conducted
According to sources, the pilots underwent a breathalyser test after the aircraft arrived in Delhi. The test reportedly returned negative for alcohol.
Blood and urine samples were then collected for screening for psychoactive substances. One of the tests reportedly returned a non-negative result. A second confirmatory examination was subsequently conducted, and the samples were sent to a certified laboratory.
Sources said hair samples may also have been collected. Hair testing can provide evidence of longer-term substance exposure, though the legal and regulatory significance depends on the substance, testing method and applicable aviation rules.
The confirmation process is important because preliminary screening tests can sometimes produce false positives or detect substances that may have been consumed legally or prescribed by a doctor. Some medicines can also affect screening results.
Investigators will need to determine:
The substance identified in the initial screening.
Whether it is prohibited under civil aviation rules.
Whether it can affect pilot performance.
When the substance was consumed.
Whether the result is confirmed by a certified laboratory.
Whether the substance was present at a level considered significant.
Whether the result had any connection with the turbulence event.
Yeh issue kaafi important hai because aviation safety depends on pilots being medically fit and free from substances that may impair judgement, reaction time or coordination.
Air India’s response
Air India said it was aware that a post-flight screening test had been conducted in accordance with applicable protocols. However, the airline said the results had not been shared with it.
“We are aware that a post-flight screening test was conducted on the pilots in accordance with applicable protocols. However, the results of the test have not been shared with Air India, and we are therefore not in a position to comment on any findings,” the airline said.
Air India also said it conducts regular drug testing of crew members in compliance with civil aviation regulations, independent of individual flights or operational incidents.
The airline has said it will continue to cooperate with the relevant authorities. This position allows Air India to acknowledge the investigation without confirming a result it has not officially received.
The airline’s response also underscores the separation between the carrier’s internal testing system and an investigation ordered by aviation authorities. A post-incident screening conducted under AAIB or regulatory directions may be handled through a separate process.
DGCA and AAIB investigation
The turbulence event has been treated as a serious aviation incident. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau is examining what happened during the flight, while the Directorate General of Civil Aviation is also involved in monitoring the pilots and operational safety aspects.
The positive or non-negative screening result may become one part of the investigation, but investigators will need to establish whether it had a connection to the incident.
Turbulence can occur naturally even when pilots follow procedures correctly. Clear-air turbulence can be difficult to detect in advance because it may not appear on conventional weather radar. A positive test, if confirmed, would not automatically prove that psychoactive substances caused the altitude loss.
Both pilots were removed from flying duties.
Reports indicate that both the captain and first officer have been removed from the flying roster while the investigation continues. The action is precautionary and does not amount to a final finding of misconduct.
The captain has been temporarily grounded pending the confirmatory test. The first officer has also been taken off flying duties as the authorities review the cockpit operations and crew fitness.
Removing the crew from duty during an active investigation is a standard safety measure. It prevents operational pressure from influencing the inquiry and allows authorities to assess the pilots’ medical and regulatory status.
The pilots will have an opportunity to respond to the test results and investigation findings. Any disciplinary or legal action will depend on the confirmed laboratory report and the conclusions of the aviation authorities.
Background: turbulence and aviation safety
Turbulence is a normal but potentially dangerous part of air travel. Most turbulence events cause no injuries, particularly when passengers are seated with their seatbelts fastened. Severe turbulence, however, can throw unrestrained passengers and crew into the cabin.
The risk is greater when cabin service is underway or when passengers are standing, using the washroom or moving through the aisle. For this reason, airlines advise passengers to keep seatbelts fastened even when the seatbelt sign is switched off.
The Air India incident drew attention because of the reported altitude drop and the number of people injured. The post-flight screening has now expanded the investigation from a weather and operational event to a wider crew-fitness inquiry.
Indian aviation rules require pilots and other crew members to undergo testing for alcohol and prohibited psychoactive substances. Testing may take place during routine checks or after an accident or serious incident.
Timeline
August 4, 2026: Air India flight AI2379 operates from Phuket to Delhi.
During cruise: The Aircraft experiences severe turbulence and reportedly loses around 300 feet of altitude.
After landing: 17 passengers and crew members are reported injured; pilots undergo post-flight screening.
Initial screening: Breathalyser tests reportedly return negative; blood and urine tests are conducted.
Following days: One pilot’s screening result is reported as non-negative for psychoactive substances.
August 9: Samples are sent for confirmatory analysis; both pilots are removed from flying duties pending the investigation.
August 10: Final laboratory confirmation remains awaited; AAIB and DGCA continue examining the incident.
Also Read: 12 Injured Amid Turbulence on Phuket-Delhi Air India Flight AI2379
Why This Matters
This matters because pilot fitness is a central part of flight safety. Passengers trust that the crew operating an aircraft is medically fit, alert and able to respond to unexpected situations.
It also matters because the reported result remains unconfirmed. Public discussion should not treat an initial screening result as proof that a pilot was intoxicated or that the result caused the turbulence.
For aviation regulators, the incident tests the effectiveness of India’s post-accident screening procedures. The authorities must ensure that testing is scientifically sound, properly documented and completed quickly.
For Air India, the case may have reputational consequences. The airline is already under public scrutiny, and passengers will want to know whether crew-testing systems work independently and consistently.
In simple Hinglish, safety ke case mein rumours nahi, confirmed report aur transparent investigation zaroori hai.
India angle
For Indian passengers, the incident is relevant because Air India is the country’s national carrier and operates a large international network. Crew-fitness standards affect confidence in the wider aviation system.
The case also highlights the role of Indian regulators. The AAIB and DGCA must ensure that the investigation is independent and that the final report clearly separates weather-related turbulence from crew-performance concerns.
The incident may prompt airlines to review their systems for:
Routine crew drug testing.
Post-flight testing after serious incidents.
Medical record verification.
Medication reporting.
Fatigue management.
Pilot counselling and support.
Confidential reporting of substance-use concerns.
India’s aviation sector is expanding rapidly, and higher passenger numbers make safety oversight even more important.
Analysis
The investigation should not assume that the turbulence was caused by the pilot’s alleged substance exposure. Severe turbulence can result from weather conditions and atmospheric movement even when a flight is operated correctly.
At the same time, authorities cannot ignore the screening result. If the confirmatory test is positive for a prohibited substance, the regulator must determine whether the pilot violated safety rules and whether the airline’s internal systems detected the issue earlier.
The fact that the breathalyser was reportedly negative is also important. It suggests that alcohol may not be involved, but it does not resolve the separate question of psychoactive substances.
A transparent final report should explain the substance, testing method, confirmation process and relevance to the flight. Without such details, speculation will continue.
What Next
The immediate next step will be the certified laboratory’s confirmatory report. If the result is confirmed, authorities may begin disciplinary proceedings, suspend the pilot’s licence or take further action under civil aviation regulations.
If the result is not confirmed, the pilot may be allowed to undergo another medical evaluation before returning to duty. The authorities may still review cockpit procedures and the turbulence response separately.
The AAIB will continue examining the flight’s data, weather conditions and cockpit recordings. Investigators will also speak with the injured passengers and cabin crew.
Air India may conduct its own internal review after receiving the official findings. The airline could revise crew-testing procedures, training and reporting systems.
Longer term, the incident may lead to tighter rules for post-incident psychoactive-substance testing and stronger coordination between airlines, airports and regulators.
Conclusion
The reported dope-test result involving the captain of Air India’s turbulence-hit Phuket-Delhi flight has added a serious new element to the investigation into the August 4 incident. The aircraft reportedly lost around 300 feet during turbulence and 17 people were injured.
The captain has been temporarily grounded, while both pilots have reportedly been removed from flying duties pending confirmation and investigation. Air India says the test results have not been shared with the airline and has declined to comment on the reported findings.
The final laboratory report will be crucial. Until it is released, the captain should not be declared guilty based only on a preliminary screening result. At the same time, aviation authorities must investigate the matter rigorously because passenger safety depends on complete transparency.
The case will ultimately require two separate questions to be answered: whether a pilot violated psychoactive-substance rules and what caused the aircraft’s sudden altitude loss. Only a technically sound and independent investigation can establish the facts.
Written By A. Jack
