Air India Phuket-Delhi captain's confirmatory dope test positive: Sources
New Delhi: The confirmatory dope test of the pilot-in-command (PIC) of Air India's Phuket-Delhi flight has also returned positive, according to sources. The flight, operated on August 4, experienced a sudden loss of altitude of about 300 feet during cruise, leaving 17 people hospitalised. The captain's initial screening test was reported as “non-negative,” and a confirmatory test was conducted as per procedure. The report of that confirmatory test, which came on Tuesday, has now also tested positive.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had taken both pilots off flying duty pending investigation. As per DGCA rules, a non-negative screening test requires the employee to be immediately removed from safety-sensitive duty until a confirmatory report is received. If the confirmatory test is positive for the first time, the employee must be referred for de-addiction and rehabilitation. A negative dope test after rehabilitation can allow the individual to resume duties. However, a second positive test would lead to a three-year suspension of the flying licence, and a third positive test would result in cancellation of the licence.
The incident is being probed by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), which has classified it as serious. The aviation ministry said further action will be based on the outcome of the investigation and confirmatory test results. Officials are examining possible causes of the sudden altitude loss, including weather conditions, the handling of the event, and the decision to continue flying to Delhi instead of diverting to a nearby airport. They are also assessing whether the aircraft suffered any damage, such as hydraulic failure, from the incident.
Meanwhile, aviation secretary Samir Sinha held a meeting with Air India's outgoing CEO Campbell Wilson, with officials from the DGCA and AAIB present. The airline was asked to ensure safety of operations from all aspects and to outline the steps it is taking in that direction. The DGCA is also working on introducing stricter dope test requirements to act as an effective deterrent.
Air India has stated its commitment to the highest standards of aviation safety, adding that all such occurrences are thoroughly investigated and appropriate action is taken as per regulations. The airline said both crew members underwent the prescribed psychoactive substance screening tests following the incident, and the samples were sent to a designated laboratory for confirmatory analysis.
