An Air India aircraft. [Getty Images]
An Air India aircraft. [Getty Images]

The captain of an Air India passenger jet that plunged sharply shortly after takeoff — injuring 24 people — has tested positive for cannabis, authorities said.

According to Reuters and Bloomberg, an Air India Airbus A320 dropped suddenly from about 91 meters (300 feet) after taking off from Phuket, Thailand, on Aug. 4, en route to New Delhi.

The plane, carrying 137 passengers and eight crew members, recovered altitude and landed safely at New Delhi's airport. The sudden drop left 20 passengers and four crew members injured.

India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is investigating the incident, collecting technical and operational evidence to determine the exact cause.

The probe has taken on added urgency after it emerged that the captain at the controls tested positive for cannabis in a drug screening.

Indian broadcaster NDTV, citing an anonymous source, reported that the captain had smoked cannabis.

India's Ministry of Civil Aviation said it administered standard psychoactive substance tests to both pilots immediately after the aircraft arrived in New Delhi on Sunday, Aug. 9. The captain's initial test came back positive, and the sample was sent for further analysis. Both pilots have been grounded pending the final outcome.

Reuters and Bloomberg, citing multiple sources, said the captain also tested positive in a second screening.

The AAIB also summoned Campbell Wilson, the former CEO of Air India at the time of the accident, for questioning on Tuesday, Aug. 11. Wilson told local media that Air India had reported the status of its investigation into the incident to the Ministry of Civil Aviation.

Founded in 1932, Air India is one of India's flagship carriers and holds the second-largest market share in the country after IndiGo. The airline posted a record loss of more than $2.3 billion in the 2025-2026 fiscal year.

The airline has faced a string of major setbacks, including airspace closures triggered by the armed conflict between India and Pakistan last year and a crash last June that killed 260 people.


betterj@heraldcorp.com