Air India Captain Tests Positive for Drugs After Flight Incident

An Air India captain has tested positive for cannabis and drugs following a sudden 300-foot altitude drop on a Phuket-New Delhi flight last week that injured passengers and crew. The latest development saw the captain's drug test come back positive for cannabis.

According to reports, India's Ministry of Civil Aviation summoned Campbell Wilson, Air India's chief executive officer, on the same day to explain the incident, which involved an Airbus A320neo aircraft. Neither Air India nor India's Ministry of Civil Aviation have responded to requests for comment, though Wilson told multiple news outlets that the airline has updated the ministry on its investigation findings.

The CEO was summoned days after Indian authorities launched an investigation into the incident, which resulted in 13 passengers and 4 crew members being injured.

India's government previously stated that the flight departing from Thailand's tourist destination Phuket experienced a "temporary change in altitude" while flying over Odisha state in eastern India. The aircraft, carrying 137 passengers and 8 crew members, landed safely in New Delhi.

On Sunday, August 9, India's Ministry of Civil Aviation said the captain's preliminary screening for psychoactive substances required confirmation through laboratory testing. However, Air India stated it has not yet received the results.

Air India is currently majority-owned by the Tata Group, with Singapore Airlines holding approximately 25%.