Captain of turbulence-hit Phuket-Delhi flight may have failed dope test

NEW DELHI: The captain operating Air India’s turbulence-hit Phuket-Delhi flight on Tuesday (Aug 4) reportedly tested positive in a psychoactive substances (dope) test conducted on arrival, according to multiple sources. The airline did not confirm or deny it, saying that while the tests were conducted, the results have not been shared with it.“We are aware that a post-flight screening test was conducted on the pilots in accordance with applicable protocols. However, the results of the test have not been shared with Air India, and we are therefore not in a position to comment on any findings,” an AI spokesperson said.“Air India undertakes regular drug testing of crew members in compliance with civil aviation regulations, independent of any specific flight or operational incident. We will continue to cooperate with the relevant authorities as required,” AI added.The Airbus A320 with 145 people on board had encountered severe turbulence near Odisha and then suddenly dropped 300 feet. On arrival in Delhi, 13 passengers and four crew members were hospitalised. Sources say the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is probing the case from all angles, including whether the handling of this turbulence event was correct. It is also probing whether the event happened due to weather or some other reason, the likely impact on the aircraft — like did it suffer hydraulic failure due to impact — and whether it should have flown all the way to Delhi after the episode and not diverted to some nearby airport like Varanasi or Lucknow.Pending investigation, the flight crew is taken off flying duty as per protocol. Hence, the pilots of this flight are also not flying currently.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.