A traveler on the Air India aircraft that faced intense turbulence and abrupt altitude drop en route from Phuket to New Delhi alleged that a pilot appeared impaired during the trip. The assertion followed reports that one of the two pilots failed a substance test after the event. Officials later stated that the initial screening of the pilot-in-command required additional verification. Jaipur resident Shrikant Jha described the pilot’s unsteady walk and speech after the incident as suspicious. Passengers filed a complaint with Delhi airport staff upon landing, urging tests that confirmed the issue. Another passenger, Renu Raniwala, recalled a fellow traveler noting the pilot’s uneven stride before the drop, during which several people including crew sustained injuries. The Airbus A320 lost roughly 300 feet while cruising on August 4 before landing safely, with 17 hurt among 145 on board. Both pilots underwent required screenings, and the commander’s sample went for lab confirmation. The event is under investigation by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau, and the pilots remain off duty pending results. Air India noted it had not received the test outcomes and could not comment.
