The captain of an Air India flight that plunged nearly 300 feet in midair tested positive for cannabis. Flight AI379 was traveling from Phuket to Delhi on August 4 when it suddenly lost altitude, injuring at least 24 passengers before landing safely. Both pilots underwent mandatory drug screening. The captain’s initial test required confirmation, and a second test subsequently confirmed cannabis use, according to Reuters. Investigators are now examining the captain’s behavior during the flight after cabin crew reportedly complained that he appeared not fully in control. An internal safety report said the captain was standing behind the co-pilot when an alert sounded and the autopilot disengaged. The plane’s nose then pitched up before the co-pilot pushed it down, sending the aircraft into a sharp plunge. Both pilots and loose objects briefly floated inside the cockpit during the maneuver. The captain eventually took control and stabilized the aircraft, but it had already dropped nearly 300 feet. India’s Ministry of Civil Aviation summoned Air India CEO Campbell Wilson on Tuesday to answer questions about the incident.
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