An Air India flight carrying 145 people experienced a sudden altitude drop while traveling from Thailand to India, prompting an ongoing civil aviation investigation. According to international news reports corroborated by regional coverage, the captain of the Airbus A320neo tested positive for cannabis in laboratory confirmation tests following the incident.
The flight, operating along the Phuket to New Delhi route, encountered what government officials described as a momentary altitude change while crossing the eastern Indian state of Odisha. The aircraft ultimately landed safely in the Indian capital. Reuters and Bloomberg reported that the sudden descent measured up to 300 feet, or approximately 91 meters, causing injuries to 13 passengers and four crew members.
Regulatory scrutiny intensified after India’s Ministry of Civil Aviation summoned Air India Chief Executive Officer Campbell Wilson to address the safety breach. Local media reports indicate that airline leadership submitted an initial status report to transport regulators, though neither the carrier nor the ministry issued immediate public comments regarding the pilot’s drug test results.
Investigation Details and Drug Testing Protocols
Regulatory authorities initiated formal inquiries days after the flight touched down safely in New Delhi.
According to reports from Reuters and Bloomberg, the unnamed captain’s initial screening required secondary verification. That subsequent laboratory test confirmed a positive result for cannabis use.
Regulators face heightened public scrutiny following previous major incidents, including a fatal accident involving an Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner in 2025.
Airline Response and Regulatory Next Steps
Investigators continue to review flight data recorders and cockpit communications to determine the precise sequence of events that triggered the abrupt altitude loss over Odisha.
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