Air India has terminated the employment of the pilot-in-command of flight AI2379, which experienced a significant altitude upset on August 4, after the pilot tested positive for a psychoactive substance. The airline confirmed the termination on September 4, 2026, citing a zero-tolerance policy regarding safety and regulatory compliance. The incident, which occurred during a flight from Phuket to Delhi, resulted in injuries to 24 passengers and crew members.
The announcement followed a preliminary report from the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), which identified the pilot's positive test result as a matter of serious concern. While the investigation into the technical causes of the flight's hydraulic failure remains ongoing, the AAIB recommended that the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) prioritize action regarding the pilot's conduct. Air India has since initiated voluntary testing for its entire pilot workforce to reinforce its safety protocols.
Technical Investigation into Hydraulic Failure
The AAIB preliminary report details a critical sequence of events that occurred while the Airbus A320 was cruising at 36,000 feet. The aircraft suffered a near-simultaneous loss of pressure across all three hydraulic systems—Green, Blue, and Yellow—within a four-second window. This failure led to the automatic disconnection of the autopilot, a stall warning, and a violent altitude upset that caused the plane to climb 372 feet before dropping 292 feet.
Maintenance records indicate that the aircraft had been operating with its Power Transfer Unit (PTU) under the Minimum Equipment List (MEL) since July 28, one week prior to the incident. However, the AAIB has not yet concluded that the PTU defect was the primary cause of the hydraulic event. Technical experts from France’s BEA have been involved in the inspection of the aircraft, and key hydraulic components have been removed for further laboratory analysis to determine why the systems failed simultaneously.
Pilot Conduct and Regulatory Scrutiny
Following the safe landing of the flight in Delhi, both the pilot-in-command and the co-pilot were subjected to mandatory breath-analyser and psychoactive substance detection tests. While the co-pilot tested negative, the pilot-in-command’s sample was found to be non-negative. A subsequent confirmatory test at a pathological laboratory confirmed the presence of a psychoactive substance, prompting the AAIB to flag the finding as a serious concern in its report to the DGCA.
Air India’s decision to sack the pilot was immediate, with the airline emphasizing that safety remains its highest priority. The airline stated that its pilots undergo regular proficiency checks and medical examinations, and it is now expanding its testing regime to include voluntary screening for all pilots. The investigation continues to analyze cockpit voice and flight-data recorders, as well as operational and maintenance records, to establish the full chain of events leading to the accident.
Impact on Passengers and Cabin Safety
The altitude upset caused significant physical damage within the cabin, leading to injuries for 20 passengers and four cabin crew members. Reports from the scene describe cracked and deformed ceiling panels, dislodged overhead-bin doors, broken handrails, and a bent crew seat. Despite the severity of the turbulence and the hydraulic failures, the flight crew managed to regain control of the aircraft and continued the flight to Delhi rather than diverting to an alternate airport.
After the hydraulic systems recovered, the pilots requested medical priority from Delhi Air Traffic Control and landed safely on Runway 11L. The AAIB investigation is currently reviewing why the crew chose to continue the flight despite the injuries sustained by those on board. The incident has prompted broader discussions regarding aviation safety standards and the rigor of drug-testing protocols for flight crews operating international routes.
Future Regulatory and Safety Milestones
The AAIB’s preliminary report serves as the first official account of the August 4 incident, but a final report is expected to take at least a year to complete. The investigation is currently focused on the technical aspects of the hydraulic system failure and the operational decisions made by the flight crew during the emergency. The DGCA is expected to review the AAIB’s findings to determine if further regulatory changes are required for airline safety management systems.
As the investigation proceeds, the focus will remain on the integrity of the aircraft’s hydraulic systems and the effectiveness of current pilot screening procedures. Air India has pledged full cooperation with the AAIB, providing access to all relevant technical and operational data. The airline’s move to implement 100% voluntary testing for its pilots marks a significant shift in its internal safety governance, reflecting the pressure to maintain public confidence following the high-profile incident.
