The co-pilot of Air India flight A12379, which was traveling from Phuket to Delhi, tested positive for a psychoactive substance following an incident where the aircraft experienced a 300-foot altitude drop while cruising over Odisha. This information comes from a preliminary report investigating the circumstances surrounding the flight.
“Detailed investigation regarding technical and other aspects are underway. In this case, it has been observed that the PIC was found non-negative for psycho-active substance in the confirmatory test. It was initially notified that the aircraft encountered a turbulence enroute to Delhi, but landed safely. An AAIB team arrived at the airport to assess the situation. Based on the evidence collected and the assessment of injuries sustained by the persons on board, the occurrence was later classified as an accident.
The confirmation of use of psycho-active substance is a serious concern and AAIB recommends appropriate actions by DGCA on priority,” said the preliminary report by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB).
