NEW DELHI — The captain of an Air India flight from Phuket to New Delhi has tested positive for cannabis after the aircraft suddenly lost about 300 feet in altitude last week, an incident that left 17 people injured.
On 12 August, India’s Ministry of Civil Aviation summoned Air India Chief Executive Officer Campbell Wilson to provide an explanation over the incident involving an Airbus A320neo.
Neither Air India nor India’s Ministry of Civil Aviation has responded to requests for comment. Wilson, however, told several media outlets that the airline had already reported updates from its investigation into the incident to the ministry.
The summons came days after Indian authorities launched an investigation into the incident, which left 13 passengers and four crew members injured.
The Indian government previously said the flight, which departed from the Thai tourist destination of Phuket, experienced a “momentary change in altitude” while flying over Odisha state in eastern India.
The aircraft was carrying 137 passengers and eight crew members and later landed safely in New Delhi.
On Sunday, 9 August, India’s Ministry of Civil Aviation said an initial screening of the captain for psychoactive substances had produced a result that required laboratory confirmation.
However, Air India said it had not yet been informed of the test results.
Air India is currently majority-owned by Tata Group, while Singapore Airlines holds a stake of about 25%.
Source: CNA
