Phuket-Delhi Flight Pilot Fails Second Dope Test
Phuket-Delhi Flight Pilot Tests Positive for Drugs
The second drug test performed on the captain of the Air India Phuket-Delhi flight, which suddenly lost about 300 feet of altitude last week, has returned positive, according to a laboratory report released on Tuesday.
The Airbus A320, carrying 137 passengers and eight crew, lost around 300 feet (91 metres) on August 4 while flying from Phuket in Thailand to New Delhi, before stabilising and landing safely.
Air India said in a statement after the plane landed that it had "experienced a sudden loss of altitude", adding that it was "fully cooperating with the investigation, and the aircraft manufacturer has also been notified".
Eight passengers and four cabin crew members were admitted to hospitals after landing in the Indian capital. India's aviation ministry said Sunday that after the flight landed, both pilots were given standard "psychoactive substance screening test". The screening test of the pilot-in-command had "indicated a result requiring confirmatory testing", with samples sent for analysis.
Both pilots have been taken off the flying roster during the investigations.
Air India CEO Meets Officials on Summons
Air India CEO Campbell Wilson, along with senior airline executives, on Tuesday met Civil Aviation Secretary Samir Kumar Sinha and other officials in response to a government summons. The sources said the civil aviation ministry called the three senior airline executives for a meeting in the wake of the August 4 incident involving the Delhi-Phuket flight AI2379.
Wilson, who is the CEO and MD of Air India, has resigned and is likely to leave the airline next month.
Airbus, French Officials to Involve in Probe
Airbus is sending experts to New Delhi on Tuesday to assist investigators probing the incident, the company said. France's civil aviation safety agency, the BEA, said it was taking part in the probe but not attending on site.
"The BEA is involved in this investigation but is not travelling to the site for the time being. Airbus's visit was coordinated with us," a statement from the agency said Tuesday.
