Air India takes action against pilot
Air India has terminated the employment of the pilot-in-command of its Phuket-Delhi flight after a confirmatory test detected a psychoactive substance.
The airline confirmed the action on September 4, following the release of the AAIB's preliminary investigation report into the August 4 flight incident.
The decision comes after the pilot's initial psychoactive-substance screening returned a โnon-negativeโ result. A subsequent blood test used for confirmation also returned a non-negative result, while the co-pilot tested negative.
What happened on the Phuket-Delhi flight?
Air India flight AI2379, an Airbus A320, was cruising at around 36,000 feet while flying towards Delhi when the aircraft suddenly experienced a serious technical problem.
According to the AAIB report, the aircraft's green hydraulic system lost pressure first, followed within seconds by the blue and yellow systems. The simultaneous loss of pressure caused the autopilot to disengage and triggered a stall warning.
The aircraft then moved significantly away from its assigned altitude, gaining about 372 feet before descending approximately 292 feet from its assigned flight level.
The co-pilot was initially flying the aircraft when the incident occurred. The pilot-in-command subsequently took control, and the aircraft recovered within seconds as the hydraulic systems returned to normal operation.
24 people injured
The sudden movement occurred while the seat-belt signs were switched off.
As a result, passengers and crew members were thrown around inside the cabin. Twenty passengers and four cabin crew members required medical attention after the aircraft landed in Delhi.
Four people were hospitalised with serious injuries, while the others were treated and discharged. The sudden altitude change also caused extensive damage inside the aircraft, including damaged ceiling panels, overhead-bin components and other cabin fittings.
Pilot's drug test raises fresh safety concerns
Both pilots underwent post-flight medical checks after the aircraft landed.
Their breathalyser tests were satisfactory. However, the subsequent psychoactive-substance test returned a non-negative result for the pilot-in-command. A confirmatory blood test also produced a non-negative result. The co-pilot tested negative.
The AAIB described the confirmation of psychoactive-substance use as a โserious concernโ and recommended that the DGCA take appropriate action on priority.
Substance test not linked to altitude loss yet
Importantly, the preliminary investigation has not concluded that the substance detected in the pilot's sample caused the aircraft's sudden altitude upset.
Investigators are separately examining the technical failure involving all three hydraulic systems. Flight recorder data, hydraulic components and fluid samples are being analysed as part of the continuing investigation.
The aircraft had also been operating with an existing Minimum Equipment List item related to its Power Transfer Unit, which investigators are examining as part of the technical probe.
Air India strengthens pilot testing
Following the incident and the subsequent investigation, Air India has moved to strengthen its safety checks.
The airline said it has initiated voluntary psychoactive-substance testing for all its pilots and continues to cooperate fully with the investigation.
Air India has also said that safety remains its highest priority and that it has provided investigators access to relevant operational, maintenance and technical records.
Investigation continues
The AAIB's report is preliminary, and the detailed investigation into both the technical failure and operational aspects of the incident is still underway.
Airbus and experts from France's BEA have also examined the aircraft, while investigators continue analysing flight-recording data and components removed from the aircraft.
The final findings are expected to provide greater clarity on what caused the simultaneous hydraulic failure and whether any other operational factors contributed to the incident.
