The Central Government has taken a tough stance following a dangerous mid-air incident aboard an Air India flight from Phuket to Delhi on August 4. Spurred by severe technical glitches, intense turbulence, and the pilot-in-command subsequently testing positive for marijuana, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has summoned Air India's CEO. Authorities issued a stern warning to the airline management to accept complete accountability for operational safety while directing the DGCA to immediately tighten drug and dope testing regulations for flight crews.
Mid-Air Crisis Over Odisha Airspace and Multiple System Failures
Air India flight AI 2379 was en route from Phuket to Delhi carrying 145 passengers when a series of critical failures occurred over Odisha airspace. The flight crew received simultaneous emergency alerts regarding all three hydraulic systems, aircraft doors, and the elevator system. Almost immediately after these warnings, the autopilot system disengaged. Compounding the emergency, the aircraft encountered severe turbulence and suffered a sudden loss of altitude, dropping 300 feet in mid-air. The abrupt drop resulted in injuries to 20 passengers and 4 cabin crew members.
Pilot Tests Positive for Marijuana Following Erratic Cockpit Behavior
Following the flight's arrival in Delhi, the pilot-in-command (PIC) underwent mandatory drug screening, which returned positive for marijuana. During questioning by investigators, the pilot claimed that personal issues had led to a prescription for sleeping pills, asserting that these medications caused the positive drug result. However, cabin crew members reported highly erratic behavior in the cockpit during the flight. According to crew complaints, the pilot appeared to be under the influence of psychoactive substances, repeatedly sitting on the cockpit floor and attempting to smoke, which forced the cabin crew to intervene.
Government Mandates Accountability and DGCA Enforcement
Viewing the breach with extreme severity, Civil Aviation Secretary Samir Sinha convened a meeting with Air India executives to demand answers regarding the safety lapses. The government made it clear that compromises on passenger safety will not be tolerated. Civil Aviation Secretary Samir Sinha stated, "The airline must take responsibility, and those found guilty in the probe will not be spared." Alongside this warning, the Civil Aviation Ministry instructed the regulator DGCA to review existing medical protocols and strictly enforce dope testing standards across all pilot operations.
Heightened Scrutiny Amid Unresolved Ahmedabad Crash Investigation
This alarming occurrence has emerged at a time when Air India's safety management is already under intense regulatory scrutiny. In June of last year, an Air India plane crashed in Ahmedabad, resulting in 260 fatalities. With the final investigation report of that tragic Ahmedabad disaster still awaiting release, the safety lapses and crew misconduct on flight AI 2379 have heightened concerns within the aviation ministry. The government has ordered Air India to immediately overhaul its internal operational monitoring and crew supervision mechanisms.
