The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has initiated a formal investigation into a serious incident involving an Air India flight from Phuket to Delhi that occurred on August 4. The aircraft experienced a sudden altitude loss of approximately 300 feet while at cruising altitude, leading to injuries among several passengers and cabin crew members before the plane eventually stabilized and landed safely in the Indian capital.
Following the event, passengers expressed significant alarm regarding the condition of the flight crew. Passenger Shrikant Jha stated that the behavior and physical appearance of the pilot raised immediate red flags. According to Jha, the pilot’s gait appeared unsteady, and his manner of speaking after the turbulence led many on board to suspect he was under the influence of alcohol. “We actually had strong suspicions about this because of the pilot’s demeanour and appearance. His gait didn’t look right, and the way he spoke after the turbulence made it seem like he was intoxicated,” Jha told ANI.
Jha emphasized the gravity of the situation and called for a thorough investigation into the matter. He noted that passengers took immediate action upon arrival to ensure accountability. “However, we lodged a strong complaint with Ravishankar Gaur, the head of Terminal 3, urging the authorities to conduct dope and blood tests, which revealed the truth. The DGCA, the Airports Authority, and the airlines need to take responsibility for this,” he added.
While these serious allegations have been raised, the allegation of intoxication has not been established. Authorities are currently awaiting the results of confirmatory testing to determine the validity of the claims made by the passengers.
Another passenger, Renu Raniwala, described the harrowing experience of the sudden drop, noting the panic that ensued among those traveling with children. “The person sitting ahead of us had already said that the pilot wasn’t even walking straight. When the flight started dropping, I was most worried about the children,” she recounted. Raniwala reported that she secured her three-year-old grandson during the turbulence, during which she sustained injuries. She further alleged that a three-year-old girl was thrown toward the rear of the cabin during the violent shaking.
Raniwala also voiced frustration regarding the post-flight response, alleging that passengers did not receive adequate assistance upon landing. She claimed that some individuals were left waiting for two to three hours before receiving necessary medical attention for their injuries.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation has officially classified the occurrence as a Serious Incident. In a statement released on Sunday, the ministry confirmed that both flight crew members underwent the prescribed psychoactive substance screening test following the flight’s arrival.
The ministry further clarified that the initial screening of the Pilot-in-Command indicated a result requiring confirmatory testing. Consequently, samples have been sent to a designated laboratory, and the final report is currently awaited to conclude the investigation into the pilot’s condition.
The flight was carrying a total of 137 passengers, including three infants, alongside eight crew members consisting of two pilots and six cabin crew. Despite the severe turbulence and the subsequent injuries reported among both passengers and staff, the aircraft managed to stabilize and complete its journey to Delhi safely.
Air India Phuket-Delhi flight drops 300 ft, 12 injured