An Air India pilot is undergoing a confirmatory psychoactive drug test after a flight plunged in turbulence, injuring 17 passengers and crew, India's aviation ministry said Sunday. Both pilots have been temporarily removed from flying duties while an investigation is under way.
The Airbus A320 was flying from Phuket, Thailand, to New Delhi on August 4 when it lost about 300 feet (91 metres) in turbulence before stabilising and landing safely, according to the civil aviation ministry. The aircraft carried 137 passengers and eight crew.
A standard dope screening test on the pilot did not produce a definitive negative result, prompting a confirmatory test, the ministry said. The aviation ministry has launched an investigation into the incident.
Reports differ on hospitalisations: The Times of India says 17 passengers and crew members were hospitalised, while the South China Morning Post reports that eight passengers and four cabin crew members were admitted to hospitals. The rest of the injured were treated at the scene or released after medical checks, the reports said.