Following a recent incident where an Air India passenger plane suddenly plunged shortly after takeoff, injuring 24 people, the pilot at the controls has reportedly tested positive for cannabis.

According to Reuters, Bloomberg, and other outlets on the 12th (local time), an Air India Airbus A320 passenger aircraft flying from Phuket, Thailand, to New Delhi, India, suddenly nosedived from an altitude of 91 meters shortly after takeoff on the 4th.

The aircraft later regained altitude and landed safely at New Delhi Airport, but the shock from the rapid descent left 24 people injured, including 20 passengers and 4 crew members.

At the time of the accident, there were 137 passengers and 8 crew members on board.

India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) stated, "We are systematically collecting all technical and operational evidence to investigate the cause of the accident."

Indian media outlet NDTV, citing anonymous sources, reported that the pilot who operated the accident aircraft had smoked cannabis.

Previously on the 9th, India's Ministry of Civil Aviation stated that it conducted standard psychoactive substance tests on the two pilots immediately after the aircraft arrived in New Delhi.

The ministry added that the pilot's initial test came back positive, and because further verification was needed, the samples were being re-analyzed. Both pilots have been grounded from flight duties until the final results are released.

Standard psychoactive substance testing is a procedure carried out when a relatively serious airliner accident occurs, and if the initial test is positive, a confirmatory secondary test is conducted.

Sources told Reuters and Bloomberg that the pilot who flew the aircraft also tested positive in the second test.

The day before, the AAIB reportedly summoned and questioned Campbell Wilson, the former CEO of Air India who was at the head of the airline at the time of the accident.

Former CEO Wilson told local media that Air India had reported the current status of the investigation regarding this accident to the Indian Ministry of Civil Aviation.

Founded in 1932, Air India is the second-largest airline by market share in India, the world's fastest-growing aviation market, trailing only IndiGo.
 
(Photo: Getty Images Korea)