An Air India captain is currently under investigation after testing positive for marijuana in a confirmatory drug screening. The development follows a harrowing mid-air incident in which a flight experienced a sudden, sharp altitude drop, leaving 24 passengers injured.

While Air India officials initially characterized the mid-flight event as a result of severe, unexpected turbulence, emerging reports and internal documentation suggest the airline may have downplayed the severity of the technical or operational failures that occurred during the flight.

Following the incident, the pilot was subjected to mandatory drug testing. Sources confirm that the primary test was followed by a confirmatory screen, which returned a positive result for marijuana.

Regulatory authorities have launched an investigation into the matter, focusing on both the pilot’s conduct and the airline's subsequent handling of the incident's aftermath. Aviation safety experts note that the use of psychoactive substances by flight crew members is a severe violation of international air safety protocols and strict airline policies.

Air India has not yet issued a detailed statement regarding the specific findings of the report, but the airline is facing increased scrutiny over its transparency regarding the safety incident. Passengers and aviation watchdogs are calling for a thorough review of the airline's safety reporting procedures in light of the conflicting accounts surrounding the flight.

Source: Newser