Air India Pilot Who Operated Phuket-Delhi Flight A12379 Sacked After Positive Drug Test
Air India has terminated the pilot-in-command of a Phuket-Delhi flight after he tested positive for a psychoactive substance during a post-flight medical examination. The pilot was operating flight A12379, which had earlier reported a sudden drop in altitude over Odisha that left several passengers injured.
Air India has terminated the pilot-in-command of a Phuket-Delhi flight after he tested positive for a psychoactive substance during a post-flight medical examination. The pilot was operating flight A12379, which had earlier reported a sudden drop in altitude over Odisha that left several passengers injured.
Air India Terminates Pilot
In a statement, Air India said the pilot's employment had been terminated with immediate effect after the drug test result.
"The Pilot-in-Command of the Phuket-Delhi flight tested positive for a psychoactive substance," the airline said.
The Tata-owned carrier said it follows a zero-tolerance policy towards violations involving safety, fitness and regulatory requirements.
" In line with Air India's zero-tolerance approach to violations of safety, fitness or regulatory requirements, the pilot's employment has been terminated with immediate effect," the airline said. Air India Pilots Drug Test: 2 More Crew Members Fail First Screening After Phuket Flight Scare.
Phuket-Delhi Flight Pilot Sacked By Air India After Testing Positive For Psychoactive Substance
Air India Spokesperson: "The Pilot-in-Command of the Phuket-Delhi flight tested positive for a psychoactive substance. In line with Air India's zero-tolerance approach to violation of safety, fitness or regulatory requirements, the pilot's employment has been terminated with… pic.twitter.com/So6bLdLoO5
— ANI (@ANI) September 4, 2026
Phuket-Delhi Flight Incident
Flight A12379 was travelling from Phuket to Delhi when it reportedly experienced a sudden drop of around 300 feet over Odisha. Several passengers were injured during the incident. Air India Phuket-Delhi Flight Pilot Who Tested Positive for Marijuana Was Also Taking Sleep Medication: Report.
The pilot was subsequently subjected to a medical examination, during which the test for psychoactive substances returned positive, according to Air India.
Air India's Safety Policy
The airline said the termination was in accordance with its approach to maintaining safety standards and complying with regulatory requirements.
The development comes as airlines and aviation authorities maintain strict rules governing the use of psychoactive substances by flight crew, with pilots required to meet prescribed medical and fitness standards before operating flights.
Air India has not disclosed the specific substance detected in the pilot's test.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 04, 2026 07:10 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
