Air India Captain Tests Positive for Cannabis

The captain of an Air India flight that suddenly lost about 300 feet of altitude has tested positive for cannabis in confirmatory screening, according to officials familiar with the investigation.

The incident involved flight AI2379, an Airbus A320neo travelling from Phuket to New Delhi on August 4. The aircraft stabilised after the altitude loss and landed safely in Delhi, but passengers and crew members were injured.

Official and media reports have differed on the precise injury count. India’s civil aviation ministry said 24 people — 20 passengers and four crew members — were hurt, while Reuters reported 17 injuries based on information available to it. The investigation will establish the final record.

Under standard procedures, both flight crew members underwent screening for psychoactive substances after landing. The pilot-in-command’s initial result required confirmatory laboratory testing, which later returned positive for cannabis, according to sources cited by Reuters and other media outlets.

Pilots removed from flying duties

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation removed both pilots from the roster pending the outcome of the inquiry. The occurrence has been classified as a serious incident and is being investigated by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau.

A positive toxicology result is an important piece of evidence but does not, by itself, establish the cause of the altitude loss or prove impairment at a specific time. Investigators are expected to consider the concentration and timing of any substance alongside operational, technical, medical and human-factor evidence.

Air India has said it is cooperating fully with the authorities. The airline’s management has also been asked to brief the civil aviation ministry on the investigation and the action taken following the incident.

What reportedly happened in the cockpit

An internal Air India flight-safety report cited by Indian media said the co-pilot was flying the aircraft when the autopilot disengaged and a stall warning sounded. The co-pilot responded by lowering the aircraft’s nose, after which the plane experienced the sudden altitude loss.

The same report reportedly said the captain was standing behind the co-pilot’s seat and discussing an air-conditioning issue when the alert occurred. Cabin crew members later raised concerns about his behaviour, according to multiple reports.

Those accounts remain part of an active investigation and have not yet been adopted as final findings by the AAIB. The bureau will examine cockpit voice and flight-data recordings, maintenance information, crew actions, medical evidence and other material before determining probable causes and contributing factors.

Aircraft stabilised and landed safely

The aircraft was carrying 137 passengers and eight crew members. It recovered from the loss of altitude and continued to Delhi, where emergency and medical teams assisted those who were injured.

Some passengers who were not secured by seat belts reportedly struck the cabin ceiling during the sudden movement. Air India initially described the occurrence as turbulence, but authorities subsequently opened a broader investigation into the aircraft’s behaviour and the crew’s actions.

Airbus and France’s air-accident investigation agency, the BEA, are providing technical assistance to the Indian-led inquiry, according to reports.

Drug-testing rules under scrutiny

The case has drawn renewed attention to India’s psychoactive-substance testing framework for aviation personnel. Existing rules provide for testing in specified circumstances and disciplinary action when a positive result is confirmed.

India’s civil aviation ministry has directed the DGCA to strengthen the testing regime, including screening more safety-sensitive personnel, and told Air India to reinforce its operational oversight.

Any action against the captain will depend on the applicable regulations, the confirmed laboratory findings and the conclusions of the official investigation. Both the airline and regulator are expected to follow due process before issuing a final determination.

Investigation remains ongoing

The AAIB has not released a final report, and the precise sequence leading to the altitude loss remains under investigation. Authorities have not concluded publicly that cannabis use caused the incident.

Until the inquiry is complete, distinctions between confirmed evidence, reported witness accounts and investigative conclusions remain essential. Further updates are expected from the aviation ministry, DGCA, AAIB and Air India.

Sources: India’s Ministry of Civil Aviation statements; Reuters reports dated 9 and 11 August 2026; Associated Press and other published reporting.