Air India pilot tests positive for marijuana after mid-air incident

An Air India Airbus A320neo flying from Phuket, Thailand, to Delhi, India, experienced a sudden altitude loss of 300 feet while over the state of Odisha last week, resulting in injuries to 13 passengers and four crew members. The aircraft, carrying 137 passengers and eight crew members in total, eventually landed safely in Delhi. Following a post-incident investigation, it was confirmed that the pilot tested positive for marijuana use.

The Indian Ministry of Civil Aviation has summoned Air India CEO Campbell Wilson to address the incident and the safety protocols of the airline. While the ministry announced on Sunday that initial screening of the pilot required confirmatory laboratory testing, the results have since become a focal point of aviation safety concerns. Air India initially stated they had not been informed of the results, and the airline did not immediately respond to further requests for comment. Reuters noted it could not independently verify all media reports regarding the testing timeline.