Air India Phuket-Delhi Turbulence Flight Captain Allegedly Failed Drugs Test

The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has opened a technical investigation into the severe turbulence encountered by an Air India Airbus A320 operating the Phuket–Delhi service on 4 August.

The aircraft experienced a sudden vertical acceleration event during cruise, resulting in an estimated 300‑foot altitude deviation and causing injuries to seventeen passengers and four cabin crew. Several of the injured required medical attention after the aircraft landed in Delhi, prompting the AAIB to classify the occurrence as a serious incident under India’s civil aviation regulations.

As required for all serious in‑flight occurrences, both operating pilots underwent mandatory post‑incident screening. Breathalyser tests were negative, but an initial toxicology screening returned a positive result for the pilot‑in‑command.

In accordance with Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) protocol, a confirmatory test was immediately initiated, and samples have been forwarded to an accredited laboratory for analysis.

Authorities emphasise that this process is procedural and that no conclusions can be drawn until the confirmatory report is issued. Air India stated that the AAIB has not yet shared any laboratory findings with the airline.

The final report will be issued once the AAIB completes its analysis of flight data, crew actions, environmental factors, and laboratory results. Until then, the investigation remains ongoing, and the incident continues to be treated as a significant operational event requiring full regulatory review.