Air India captain tests positive for marijuana after altitude incident: report

WEB DESK: The captain of an Air India Phuket-Delhi flight that suddenly lost about 300 feet of altitude last week has tested positive for marijuana in a confirmatory drug test, a source familiar with the matter said.

Earlier on Tuesday, India’s Ministry of Civil Aviation summoned Air India CEO Campbell Wilson over the incident, which involved an Airbus A320neo aircraft, a second source said.

Air India and the ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Wilson told news channels that the airline had briefed the ministry on the status of the investigation into the incident.

The summons came days after Indian authorities opened an investigation into the incident, which injured 13 passengers and four crew members.

The flight from the Thai tourist city experienced a “momentary altitude variation” while it was flying over the eastern Indian state of Odisha, according to the Indian government.

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The aircraft, carrying 137 passengers and eight crew members, landed safely in Delhi.

On Sunday, the Ministry of Civil Aviation said the captain’s initial screening for psychoactive substances had produced a result requiring confirmatory laboratory testing.

Air India had said it had not been informed of the results at that time.

The airline is majority-owned by the Tata Group, while Singapore Airlines holds an approximately 25% stake.

The reported positive confirmatory test is expected to form part of the ongoing investigation into the incident and may lead to further regulatory action, depending on the findings of Indian aviation authorities.