India is awaiting drug test results for an Air India captain after an Aug. 4 midair drop.
Why it matters: The case keeps Air India under scrutiny after a serious in-flight incident. It also shows how authorities are handling the probe before assigning fault.
- India's aviation ministry said Aug. 12 it is waiting on the captain's drug test results.
- The Airbus A320 dropped about 300 feet on Aug. 4 and injured 24 passengers and crew.
- The flight was traveling from Phuket to New Delhi with 137 people on board.
- India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau is listed as the investigator.
India's aviation ministry said it is awaiting drug test results for the captain of an Air India flight that dropped about 300 feet midair on Aug. 4, according to AP. The ministry's update came as the incident remained under official review.
The flight was an Airbus A320 traveling from Phuket, Thailand, to New Delhi, India, with 137 people on board, including three infants, AP reported. The drop injured 24 passengers and crew members.
Aviation authorities have described the event as a serious incident under investigation. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau of India is listed as the investigator.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation and the DGCA said in a government statement that investigations are evidence-based and are not considered concluded until final reports are issued. The statement said formal procedures apply to Air India-related incidents as well.
By the numbers
- 300 feet - Approximate altitude drop reported on Aug. 4.
- 24 - Passengers and crew members injured.
- 137 - People on board, including three infants.
Yes, but: Officials have not said the drug test results are linked to any finding of fault, and the investigation is still ongoing.
What's next: Authorities are still awaiting the captain's drug test results and the final investigation report.