A Phuket-Delhi Air India flight dropped 300 feet on August 4, injuring passengers and crew. The incident demands a definitive account of what went wrong
The A320 reportedly suffered a rare loss of pressure across all three hydraulic systems, briefly affecting critical flight controls. The simultaneous failure needs close scrutiny
The captain tested positive for marijuana after the flight
Two other pilots have also tested positive, highlighting the need for stronger safeguards against psychoactive substance use
India requires random testing of at least 10% of safety-sensitive personnel annually. In the US, the minimum for airline safety-sensitive workers is 25% for drugs
Air India’s one-time testing of its 5,000-plus pilots is a step forward. But safety cannot depend on compliance on paper; testing and enforcement must be rigorous
With aviation expanding rapidly, airlines cannot compromise on safety. The regulator must ensure foolproof compliance, while investigations must establish causes without conjecture