Air India CEO meets regulators amid Phuket-Delhi turbulence probe

Top-level meetings amid probe

Air India's chief executive met senior officials of the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Tuesday, as investigations intensify into last week's Phuket-Delhi flight incident. The meeting comes amid multiple reports of a pilot failing drug tests and a rare flight-control anomaly that caused a sudden loss of altitude.

According to sources familiar with the matter, the discussions focused on preliminary findings, operational protocols, and the airline's response to the mid-air event. The DGCA has already begun a formal inquiry, and the civil aviation ministry is said to have summoned the CEO for a detailed briefing.

The flight incident

The aircraft, operating from Phuket to Delhi, experienced what aviation experts describe as a rare flight-control event before dropping roughly 300 feet. Passengers on board reportedly felt a sudden jolt, though the crew managed to stabilise the plane and continue to the destination without further incident.

Sources told The Times of India that the event was unusual enough to trigger immediate scrutiny from safety regulators. While the exact nature of the flight-control issue has not been officially disclosed, investigators are examining maintenance logs, cockpit voice recordings, and flight data recorder information.

Pilot's drug tests positive

Separately, multiple media reports, including from NDTV and The Times of India, indicate that one of the pilots on the flight failed two dope tests. Sources say the initial screening test returned positive for marijuana, and a confirmatory test also came back positive. The pilot has reportedly been taken off flying duties pending further investigation.

The DGCA has strict rules on substance abuse for flight crew, and a positive confirmatory test typically leads to licence suspension and legal action. Neither the airline nor the regulator has officially confirmed the pilot's identity or the test results, but officials familiar with the probe have not denied the reports.

Regulatory response

The DGCA has been under pressure to ensure airlines enforce safety norms strictly. In recent years, the regulator has conducted random drug tests at airports, but this incident has raised questions about pre-flight screening procedures. A senior official said the probe would also review whether the airline followed standard operating procedures before and during the flight.

Air India, in a brief statement, said it is cooperating fully with the investigation and has initiated its own internal review. The airline declined to comment on the pilot's test results, citing privacy and ongoing proceedings.

What to watch

The DGCA is expected to release a preliminary report in the coming weeks. The outcome could lead to penalties for the pilot, changes in Air India's crew management practices, or stricter enforcement of drug-testing protocols across Indian carriers. For now, the focus remains on determining what exactly caused the flight-control event and whether human error or technical failure played a role.