Air India pilot tested positive for psychoactive substance after emergency landing

Aviation authorities have raised questions about pilot fitness following an incident aboard an Air India flight from Delhi to Phuket in which all hydraulic systems failed, forcing the aircraft into an uncontrolled descent. The emergency prompted the Airports Authority of India to flag a positive test result for psychoactive substances detected in one of the pilots involved in the operation.

During the incident, the aircraft's autopilot disengaged as the hydraulic failure occurred, resulting in a sudden loss of altitude. The sudden maneuver caused significant turbulence within the cabin, injuring 24 passengers and damaging internal fixtures. The damage included cracked ceiling panels and structural damage to aircraft fittings, with reports indicating that a commode was uprooted from its mounting.

The emergency landing, which was handled without further incident, has triggered a formal investigation into the circumstances surrounding both the technical failure and the crew's fitness to operate the aircraft. Aviation safety protocols require standard testing of aircrew following serious incidents, which is how the substance test was conducted.

The incident comes amid heightened scrutiny of aviation safety standards in the region, with authorities emphasizing the importance of rigorous health and fitness protocols for flight crews operating commercial services.