Dope test of turbulent Air India flight’s pilot ‘not negative’, sent for confirmation, says government | India News
NEW DELHI: The captain of Air India’s August 4 Phuket-Delhi flight, which experienced a sudden loss of altitude of about 300 feet, was subjected to a psychoactive substance (dope) screening test on arrival, whose result was “not negative” and has been sent for confirmatory tests, the aviation ministry said Sunday.TOI had exclusively reported on Sunday that the pilot of the turbulence-hit flight may have failed the dope test.The ministry has classified the incident, which led to 17 people being hospitalised, as serious and said the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) will probe it.
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“Further action, as appropriate, will be taken based on the outcome of the investigation and confirmatory test results,” it said.
Air India pilots grounded till probe is over
Directorate General of Civil Aviation rules stipulate that “in case the screening test (for psychoactive substances) is non-negative, the employee shall be immediately removed from the safety-sensitive duty till a confirmatory report is received. In case of positive confirmatory test for the first time, the concerned employee shall be referred by the organisation” for de-addiction.Multiple passengers and cabin crew members on board the Airbus A320 operating as AI 2379 were injured when it suddenly lost altitude. The plane later landed safely in Delhi. “As standard operating procedures following such an occurrence, both flight crew members underwent the prescribed psychoactive substance screening test. The screening test in respect of the pilot-in-command (PIC) indicated a result requiring confirmatory testing. Samples have been sent to the designated laboratory for confirmatory analysis, and the final report is awaited,” the ministry statement added.Both pilots have been taken off flying duty by the DGCA, pending investigation.
