Air India pilot dismissed after turbulence incident and positive drug test

Air India has dismissed the captain of a flight that suddenly dropped about 90 meters, injuring 24 people on board.

The pilot tested positive for psychoactive substances, according to a preliminary report published Friday by India’s aviation safety authority. The aircraft was flying toward New Delhi when the sudden loss of altitude occurred.

The report also identified a temporary failure in the aircraft’s hydraulic systems. India’s Civil Aviation Ministry classified the event as a “serious incident.”