Reaffirming its commitment to transparency and regulatory compliance, Air India on Friday issued its first official response following the release of the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau’s preliminary report into the August 4 Phuket-bound, Delhi-bound flight AI 2379 from Phuket.
The airline has announced to extend fulls upport to the ongoing technical and medical inquiries into the mid-air hydraulic failure and subsequent crew drug test findings. It launched a voluntary 100% testing for all its pilots in wake of the incident.
“We acknowledge the release of the preliminary report by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) and continue to extend our full cooperation to the investigation, including providing access to all relevant operational, maintenance and technical records,” an Air India spokesperson stated.
Addressing concerns around crew fitness and operational standards, the carrier said, “Safety remains Air India’s highest priority. Our pilots undergo rigorous training, regular proficiency checks, medical examinations and other regulatory assessments in accordance with applicable national and international requirements. Following the incident, Air India has started voluntary testing of 100% of its pilots as a further step to reinforce its safety-first approach.”
It has declared zero tolerance for any breach of safety, fitness or regulatory requirements and has announced that it will take appropriate action whenever warranted.
The statement comes against the backdrop of the AAIB’s preliminary report on flight AI2379, which revealed a brief triple hydraulic system drop mid-flight that caused an altitude fluctuation, leaving 24 people injured and damaging parts of the cabin interior. Besides, the report also noted that while post-flight alcohol breath analyser tests were negative for both pilots, the pilot in command tested positive for psychoactive substances during initial and laboratory confirmatory tests.
Earlier on Friday, the airline authorities terminated the services of pilot in command whi returned positive to psychoactive substances test during the flight.
“Safety remains Air India’s highest priority. The Pilot-in-Command of the Phuket-Delhi flight tested positive for a psychoactive substance. In line with Air India’s zero-tolerance approach to violation of safety, fitness or regulatory requirements, the pilot’s employment has been terminated with immediate effect,” the airline announced on X