Air India captain fails confirmatory drug test after Phuket-Delhi plunge

Second test confirms initial finding

A confirmatory drug test for the Air India captain involved in last week's Phuket-Delhi flight incident has come back positive for marijuana, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters on Tuesday. The result follows an initial screening that had also flagged the presence of the substance.

The captain, who has not been publicly named, was at the controls when the Boeing 787 experienced a rare flight-control event that caused the aircraft to drop roughly 300 feet before recovering. All passengers and crew on board were safe, and the flight continued to Delhi, where it landed without further incident.

Officials have not yet confirmed the exact sequence of events leading to the altitude loss, nor have they detailed the specific flight-control anomaly. However, the confirmatory test result now places the spotlight squarely on the cockpit crew's condition during the flight.

A rare event under scrutiny

Aviation experts describe the reported flight-control event as uncommon for the 787 Dreamliner, a aircraft known for its fly-by-wire systems and multiple redundancies. The 300-foot drop, while not immediately catastrophic, would have been a jolt for passengers and crew, and it has triggered a formal investigation by India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Board (AAIB).

The AAIB's probe is expected to examine not only the technical aspects of the flight-control event but also the human factors, including the captain's medical and psychological state. The positive confirmatory test for marijuana will almost certainly be a central piece of that investigation.

Air India has not issued a detailed public statement beyond acknowledging that the pilot has been taken off flying duties pending the outcome of the probe. The airline has declined to comment on the test results, citing the ongoing investigation and employee privacy rules.

Why this matters beyond one flight

This incident comes at a delicate time for Indian aviation. The sector has seen rapid growth in domestic and international traffic, and regulators have repeatedly stressed safety as a top priority. A pilot testing positive for a banned substance is not just a legal issue — it raises questions about the effectiveness of pre-flight checks and the broader safety culture within the country's airlines.

Under Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) rules, pilots are subject to random drug and alcohol testing. The initial screening that flagged the captain was part of a standard post-incident protocol, according to sources. The confirmatory test, conducted at a government-approved laboratory, has now upheld that initial finding.

Marijuana is classified as a narcotic under Indian law, and its use is illegal except for restricted medicinal purposes. For a commercial pilot, the consequences of a confirmed positive test can include licence suspension, revocation, and even criminal proceedings. The DGCA has yet to announce any specific action against the captain, but the regulatory framework leaves little room for leniency in such cases.

What happens next

The AAIB investigation will take time, and the final report could take months. In the interim, expect the DGCA to review the airline's internal drug-testing protocols and the captain's medical records. Air India may also face questions about its pre-flight crew checks and whether any lapses occurred.

For the captain, the road ahead is uncertain. A positive confirmatory test for marijuana is a serious professional and legal setback, and the outcome of the probe will determine whether this was an isolated lapse or a symptom of a deeper problem.

Watch for the DGCA's next move — whether it issues a show-cause notice, suspends the captain's licence, or orders a wider audit of Air India's cockpit crew. The incident has already shaken confidence, and the regulator's response will signal just how seriously India treats drug use among its flight deck crews.