Air India pilot tests positive for cannabis after flight plunges 300ft

Air India says a captain linked to a 4 August incident on the Phuket–Delhi route has tested positive for cannabis. The flight plunged about 300 feet from cruising altitude, injuring at least 24 passengers, but later landed safely. After the event, both pilots were required to undergo drug screening; the captain’s first test indicated the need for confirmatory testing, which the civil aviation ministry said was completed. A second test has now confirmed cannabis use, Reuters reported, citing a source familiar with the probe. Investigators are also examining the captain’s behavior after crew members filed a complaint alleging he wasn’t in complete control. An internal Air India flight safety report seen by NDTV describes the captain standing behind the co-pilot during an alert.