On Thursday, 13 August, 2026, the Tata Group airlines, Air India and Air India Express, ordered dope test for all group pilots.
The Tata Group airlines’ move comes just a few days after the Phuket-Delhi flight pilot had tested positive for marijuana.
According to the news agency, PTI, the airlines will conduct tests of all group pilots for any substances or medications that are not allowed ‘under prevailing regulations.’
Testing mandatory from today:
All group pilots will undergo the test before flying any aircraft from Thursday itself.
Phuket-Delhi flight investigations:
Earlier, a purported post-flight maintenance report for Air India flight AI2379 had revealed a series of technical warnings involving the aircraft’s hydraulic systems, flight controls, and autopilot during its journey from Phuket to Delhi on August 4.
The report generated for Airbus A320 VT-EXO operating the flight lists repeated low-pressure alerts across the green, blue, and yellow hydraulic systems, along with low fluid levels in the yellow and blue reservoirs.
Credit: ANI | Air India’s outgoing CEO Campbell Wilson speaks to the media as he leaves after meeting senior officials of MoCA and DGCA regarding the Phuket-Delhi flight incident, in New Delhi
Autopilot disconnections were recorded twice. Other warnings included a left and right elevator flight control fault, engine anti-ice-related messages, and indications involving the right forward and aft emergency exit doors.
Failure messages on the report further flagged issues with the hydraulic system, an elevator computer, and a high-pressure indication linked to the nose landing gear door/engine anti-ice valve system.
Air India initially described the event as related to turbulence. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) are investigating the occurrence, which has been classified as a serious incident.
The purported maintenance report itself does not confirm whether the logged hydraulic and flight control warnings were directly linked to the altitude loss or whether an actual loss of pressure/fluid occurred. Investigators are examining the sequence of events, system data, and crew actions.
Air India has stated that the safety and well-being of passengers and crew remain its highest priority and that it is cooperating with authorities. The Civil Aviation Ministry has been closely monitoring the situation with senior officials. Further findings from the AAIB investigation are awaited.
Phuket-Delhi flight caused injuries to how many passengers?
On August 4, 2026, Air India flight AI2379, operating from Phuket to Delhi, experienced a sudden 300-foot altitude drop over Odisha, resulting in injuries to passengers and crew members.
The Air India Airbus A320 aircraft, bearing registration VT-EXO, subsequently stabilised and landed safely in Delhi.
During the incident, injuries were reported to 20 passengers and four cabin crew members. The aircraft was carrying 137 passengers, including three infants, and eight crew members comprising two pilots and six cabin crew.
