The confirmed use of illegal drugs by the pilot flying the Air India flight that experienced a sudden altitude loss last month is a “serious concern” and needed to be tackled urgently, a government agency probing the incident said.
In its preliminary report Friday, the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau, or AAIB, urged India’s aviation regulator to take “ appropriate actions” on priority, without detailing what those could be. “The confirmation of use of psycho-active substance is a serious concern,” the report said, adding that a detailed investigation regarding technical and other aspects is underway.
The report stopped short of concluding if the pilot’s drug use was the cause of an abrupt plunge of nearly 300 feet for the Air India flight headed to New Delhi from Phuket on Aug 4. The altitude drop left 20 passengers and four cabin crew members injured and damaged some part of the cabin.
The Airbus SE A320 aircraft was carrying 137 passengers and eight crew members.
The incident adds to the challenges of the Tata Group-owned airline, which reported a record loss of 220 billion rupees ($2.3 billion) in the year ended March 31. It also shows the scale of challenges awaiting incoming Chief Executive Officer Tewolde Gebremariam, who is joining the beleaguered airline next week.
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The French Accidents Investigation regulator BEA is assisting AAIB, the report said. The Indian agency has interviewed the flight and cabin crew, the airline, airport operator and the medical team among others.
Even before the AAIB’s findings were released, Tata Group-owned Air India began screening its more than 5,000 pilots. Malaysia Airlines introduced mandatory drug testing in August after a cockpit crew member was arrested for alleged smuggling of narcotics.
According to rules set by India’s aviation regulator, an employee who tests positive for a psycho-active substance for the first time is referred to a rehabilitation program and must return a negative result before resuming safety-sensitive duties.
A second positive triggers a three-year license suspension, while a third results in permanent cancellation of the permit.
A preliminary assessment by Airbus found the aircraft lost systems controlling its pitch and tilt before regaining normal functions, with the losses and recovery occurring within about seven seconds.
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“The investigation is under progress. The final report will be published in due course,” the report said.
