Two more Air India pilots have reportedly failed the preliminary stage of drug testing ordered by the airline following a serious incident involving a Phuket-Delhi flight. The pilots have been temporarily removed from flying duties while their final test results are awaited.

According to a report by News18, the two pilots are among more than 300 Air India pilots who have undergone testing since the airline expanded its drug-screening exercise. The final results are generally expected within 24 to 48 hours.

Pilots De-Rostered Pending Results

The pilots have been de-rostered, meaning they have been temporarily taken off flying duties until the testing process is completed.

A preliminary positive or non-negative result does not by itself establish that a pilot consumed drugs. Confirmatory laboratory testing is required before any conclusion can be drawn or disciplinary action is taken.

The testing drive was introduced as part of a revised standard operating procedure (SOP) following heightened scrutiny of cockpit safety and crew fitness.

Phuket-Delhi Flight Incident

The wider testing exercise began after the pilot-in-command of a Phuket-Delhi flight reportedly returned two positive urine tests after the aircraft landed. Marijuana was reportedly detected during the tests.

A cabin crew member also reportedly alleged that the pilot had previously smoked marijuana.

The incident attracted attention after the Airbus A320neo operating the flight experienced a sudden drop of around 300 feet, reportedly leaving 17 people injured.

Technical Failure Under Investigation

While early reports linked the sudden altitude change to turbulence, subsequent information from the aircraft's system logs reportedly pointed towards a technical malfunction involving the aircraft's hydraulic systems and flight controls.

The aircraft reportedly experienced a simultaneous loss of control of key flight surfaces, including the elevators and ailerons, for approximately four seconds. The spoilers were also affected.

The technical issue has added another layer to the investigation into the flight.

Why Hydraulic Systems Matter

Hydraulic systems are essential to the operation of several aircraft flight-control surfaces.

Elevators control the aircraft's pitch, allowing the nose to move up or down, while ailerons control roll by changing the lift generated by the wings. Spoilers reduce lift and increase drag and can also assist during descent and landing.

A simultaneous disruption involving several of these systems can therefore create a serious flight-control challenge for pilots.

Air India Tightens Drug Testing

Following the Phuket-Delhi incident, Air India directed pilots to undergo drug testing as part of strengthened safety procedures.

The airline has previously stated that drug testing of crew members is carried out in accordance with applicable civil aviation regulations. It has also maintained that such testing forms part of its broader safety procedures and is not conducted solely because of an individual flight incident.

The latest preliminary results are likely to increase scrutiny of cockpit fitness and compliance with safety requirements.

Final Tests Will Determine Next Steps

The two pilots will remain off flying duties while their final test results are processed. A preliminary result alone cannot determine whether a violation has occurred.

The outcome of the confirmatory tests will determine whether further action is required against the pilots.

The development comes as Air India faces increased attention over flight safety, technical reliability and crew fitness following a series of incidents. The airline's expanded testing programme is intended to strengthen compliance and ensure that pilots meet the required medical and safety standards before operating commercial flights.

The investigation into the Air India Phuket-Delhi flight that suddenly lost around 300 feet of altitude on August 4 has shifted attention from initial speculation about turbulence and the pilot's drug test to a possible chain of technical failures involving the aircraft's hydraulic and flight-control systems.

Air India flight AI2379, an Airbus A320 carrying 137 passengers and crew, was flying towards New Delhi when the sudden altitude change occurred roughly two-and-a-half hours after departure from Phuket. The incident left 17 people injured and prompted a formal investigation by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB).

While the exact cause remains under investigation, reports citing sources familiar with the probe have pointed to triple hydraulic-system failures, an autopilot disconnect and other temporary system indications on board the aircraft.

What Happened Mid-Flight?

The aircraft had reportedly been flying normally before the sudden incident. Passengers described an abrupt disturbance followed by intense shaking and a rapid drop in altitude.

Some passengers reported that cabin baggage and other objects were thrown around during the episode. Crew members instructed passengers to fasten their seatbelts as the aircraft experienced the sudden change.

The aircraft subsequently continued its journey and landed in Delhi, where injured passengers and crew members received medical attention.

The AAIB is investigating the sequence of events under the applicable international aviation investigation framework.

Focus Turns to Hydraulic Systems

One of the most significant developments in the investigation is the reported failure of all three hydraulic systems.

Aircraft hydraulic systems use pressurised fluid to operate and assist several critical components, including flight-control surfaces and other mechanical systems. Modern commercial aircraft are designed with multiple levels of redundancy, making a simultaneous failure of all three hydraulic systems an unusual event.

According to reports citing aviation sources, the cockpit crew responded to the problem by manually controlling the aircraft and temporarily changing its flight path or altitude.

The reported 300-foot descent may therefore have been part of the crew's response to the technical problem rather than an uncontrolled plunge.

Why Did the Aircraft Lose Altitude?

The precise sequence remains unclear.

Reports indicate that the aircraft's autopilot disconnected during the incident, requiring the co-pilot to regain manual control. Several cockpit indicators or switches were also reportedly observed to change temporarily.

If confirmed by investigators, the combination of hydraulic-system problems and an autopilot disconnect could help explain why the aircraft experienced a sudden change in altitude.

However, investigators will need to establish whether the hydraulic failures occurred simultaneously, whether one system failure triggered another and how the aircraft's flight-control systems responded.

What About the Pilot's Drug Test?

The pilot's initial psychoactive-substance screening has also attracted attention.

The Civil Aviation Ministry said the initial screening produced a result that required further analysis and that a confirmatory test was being conducted. The final result had not been established at the time of the reports provided.

The Airline Pilots Association of India has also pointed out that some commonly used medicines can potentially affect preliminary screening results.

Therefore, the initial "non-negative" screening should not be treated as proof that the pilot was intoxicated or that it caused the altitude loss.

Investigators will have to consider the confirmatory test alongside cockpit recordings, aircraft data and other evidence.

Turbulence Theory Also Under Review

Turbulence was initially cited in Air India's description of the incident. However, subsequent statements reportedly did not place the same emphasis on turbulence.

This has raised questions about whether turbulence was actually responsible for the altitude loss or whether the aircraft's technical problems played the central role.

Only the formal investigation can establish whether turbulence, a technical malfunction or a combination of factors contributed to the event.

Airbus Joins the Investigation

Aircraft manufacturer Airbus is assisting the investigation.

The company has said it is providing technical assistance to the relevant authorities in accordance with ICAO Annex 13 and is sending specialists to support the probe.

Investigators are expected to examine the aircraft's flight-data recorder, cockpit voice recorder, maintenance records and relevant system data. These sources should help establish exactly what happened inside the aircraft during the critical seconds.

The investigation will also examine whether the reported hydraulic failures occurred before or after the altitude change and how the cockpit crew responded.

What Happens Next?

At this stage, several explanations remain possible, but none has been conclusively established.

The investigation will need to determine the relationship between the reported triple hydraulic failure, autopilot disconnect, cockpit indications, the aircraft's 300-foot altitude change and the injuries sustained inside the cabin.

The pilot's confirmatory test will also be important in determining whether the preliminary screening has any relevance to the incident.

Until the AAIB completes its investigation, claims that the aircraft plunged because of pilot intoxication or turbulence remain unproven.

For passengers, however, the incident has once again highlighted the importance of keeping seatbelts fastened throughout a flight, including when the aircraft appears to be flying normally.

A Historic Day for North India

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday inaugurated the long-awaited Noida International Airport in Jewar, Uttar Pradesh, officially opening the Delhi-NCR region's second international airport after nearly two decades of planning and repeated delays. The Prime Minister also inaugurated the airport's cargo terminal and laid the foundation stone for a Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul facility at the site.

The first phase of the airport has been developed at a cost of ₹11,282 crore, with the full project estimated at approximately ₹29,560 crore. The inauguration marks one of the most significant additions to India's civil aviation infrastructure in recent years.

When Will Flights Actually Begin

The airport is formally open, but passengers will need to wait a few more weeks before boarding a flight from Jewar. Commercial operations are expected to begin within 45 to 60 days as airlines finalise slots, staffing, and ground arrangements. The first flights are expected to take off by mid-May 2026.

Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu has noted that a standard gap of 45 days to two months typically exists between the grant of an aerodrome licence and the actual commencement of flight services. Both the Directorate General of Civil Aviation and the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security have cleared the project, according to official sources.

Airlines Lining Up to Fly

Leading carriers including IndiGo, Akasa Air, and Air India Express have confirmed their intent to operate from Jewar, signalling strong early industry confidence. IndiGo, which signed on as the airport's designated launch carrier as far back as November 2023, is expected to anchor domestic connectivity in the opening phase.

Initial domestic routes are expected to cover Bengaluru, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Lucknow, Dehradun, and Hubli. International connections, including possible services to Dubai, Singapore, and Zurich, are expected to follow once operations stabilise in subsequent months.

What the Airport Offers

Phase 1 features a single runway and a terminal designed to handle up to 12 million passengers annually. The runway is CAT-III compliant — a critical feature for a region that battles dense winter fog — meaning flights can operate even in severely low-visibility conditions.

A large integrated cargo terminal developed by Air India SATS Airport Services forms part of the launch infrastructure, supporting both domestic and international freight with modern logistics systems. Sustainability has been built into the project from the ground up, with low-carbon construction materials, renewable energy partnerships, and a stated goal of net-zero emissions operations.

The terminal building, designed by a consortium of Nordic, Grimshaw, Haptic, and STUP architects, will feature self-drop and self-boarding gates, reflecting a push towards a smoother, faster passenger experience.

Strategic Location and Connectivity

The airport is positioned as the primary international gateway for cities including Noida, Ghaziabad, Meerut, Mathura, Agra, Faridabad, and Bulandshahr, and will serve as a key entry point for several religious and tourist destinations across northern India.

Located along the Yamuna Expressway, roughly 75 kilometres from central Delhi, the airport is expected to bring significant relief to tens of millions of residents in western Uttar Pradesh, Greater Noida, and parts of Haryana and Rajasthan who currently endure long commutes to Indira Gandhi International Airport. Analysts expect ticket fares at Jewar to be 10 to 15 per cent lower than at Delhi, owing to competitive airport charges and a lower rate of value-added tax on aviation turbine fuel.

Six highway corridors, a metro link, a rapid rail connection, and pod taxis are all part of the larger connectivity plan for the airport in the years ahead.

Relief for Delhi's Congested Skies

The opening arrives at a pressing moment for India's aviation sector. Domestic air travel has more than doubled since 2014, crossing 160 million passengers in 2025, and Indira Gandhi International Airport has long been operating at or near its maximum capacity. The two airports are expected to function as an integrated aviation system for the NCR — easing congestion, expanding passenger capacity, and widening global connectivity.

The project is being operated under a 40-year concession agreement by Yamuna International Airport Private Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Zurich Airport International AG, in partnership with the Uttar Pradesh government.

What Comes Next

Over the coming months, more airlines, additional routes, and expanded international services are expected to be added as operations scale up. Once it matures, Jewar is widely expected to emerge as a genuine alternative to Delhi for travellers from across western Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Rajasthan.

At full development, the airport is planned to have five runways and a passenger capacity of 70 million per year by 2040, which would place it among Asia's largest aviation hubs. When fully operational, Uttar Pradesh will become the first state in the country to run five international airports simultaneously.

For now, the question on most travellers' minds is straightforward: when can they book? By current timelines, the answer is mid-May 2026 — and for a region that has long deserved its own world-class air gateway, that moment cannot come soon enough.

DGCA Tightens Rules After Back-to-Back Charter Plane Crashes

In a major move to enhance aviation safety, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has introduced stricter regulations for charter operators across the country. Under the new directive, DGCA mandates aircraft age & maintenance disclosure for all non-scheduled operators, including chartered planes and air ambulances.

The decision comes in the wake of two fatal charter aircraft crashes within a month, raising serious questions about safety oversight in India’s non-scheduled aviation sector.

Operators will now be required to publicly display detailed aircraft maintenance history and the age of each aircraft on their official websites. The aviation regulator is also considering publishing a safety ranking of operators on the DGCA website, based on compliance records and past performance.

Trigger: Deadly Air Ambulance Crash in Jharkhand

The regulatory crackdown follows the tragic air ambulance crash in Chatra district, Jharkhand, on February 23, 2026. A Beechcraft King Air B90L operated by Redbird Aviation crashed minutes after take-off from Ranchi, killing all seven people onboard.

According to officials, contact with the aircraft was lost shortly after departure. The crash occurred in the forested Samaria area. Those who lost their lives included two pilots, a doctor, paramedical staff, and a patient with family members.

The incident has intensified scrutiny of non-scheduled operators in India, especially those involved in emergency medical transport.

Ajit Pawar Plane Crash Raised Further Alarm

Earlier this year, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar died in a chartered aircraft crash at Baramati Airport. The accident occurred during a landing attempt amid poor visibility. Five others, including crew members and security staff, also lost their lives.

Following a special audit related to the Baramati crash, DGCA had already grounded four aircraft linked to safety concerns. However, the latest rule — where DGCA mandates aircraft age & maintenance disclosure — signals a broader systemic reform.

What the New DGCA Charter Safety Norms Mean

The revised DGCA charter safety norms aim to increase transparency and accountability among non-scheduled operators in India. Key highlights include:

 Mandatory disclosure of aircraft age on operator websites

 Public access to complete maintenance history

 Possible safety ranking system for operators

 Enhanced audit and compliance checks

A senior aviation expert stated that public disclosure will empower clients to make informed decisions. “Corporate houses, political leaders, and medical institutions that hire charter services can now evaluate safety standards more transparently,” the expert said.

Why This Matters Now

India’s charter aviation sector has grown significantly in recent years, driven by rising demand for private travel, medical evacuation services, and political tours. However, safety standards in the non-scheduled segment have often faced criticism.

The move where DGCA mandates aircraft age & maintenance disclosure reflects a shift toward proactive regulation rather than reactive enforcement after accidents.

With increasing air traffic and expanding private aviation services, safety transparency is becoming critical. Publicly accessible maintenance records could set a new benchmark for accountability in Indian aviation.

What Happens Next?

DGCA officials confirmed that detailed guidelines and timelines for compliance will soon be issued. Operators failing to comply may face penalties, suspension, or grounding of aircraft.

As investigations into recent crashes continue, the aviation regulator’s latest directive sends a clear message — safety standards cannot be compromised.

For passengers and stakeholders alike, the new disclosure rules may mark a turning point in restoring confidence in India’s charter aviation industry.