Opposition raises concern over Air India pilot’s Marijuana use, seeks strong action
New Delhi, Aug 12 (IANS) Opposition parties on Wednesday expressed serious concern over reports that the pilot of an Air India flight from Phuket to Delhi allegedly tested positive for marijuana in two separate dope tests following an in-flight incident that left several passengers and crew members injured.
Reacting to the reports, Samajwadi Party MP, Ram Gopal Yadav, termed the matter extremely serious and called for a thorough investigation.
Ram Gopal Yadav said, “This is a very serious matter. He was under the influence of cannabis and was not in his seat at the time. It was only by God’s grace that all 137 passengers and the eight crew members were saved.”
Samajwadi Party spokesperson spokesperson Udaiveer Singh said, “This is a very bad thing. It is playing with the lives of the general public. This is an unforgivable crime. Serious action should be taken against those who put people’s lives at risk in this manner. It should also be ensured whether the flight staff are in proper condition or not.”
Congress MP Jebi Mather described the reports as shocking and said the issue must be treated with utmost seriousness.
“The lives of hundreds of passengers are in the hands of a pilot. If a pilot is found to have consumed any intoxicating substance, it raises serious concerns about aviation safety. A strong message must go out that such conduct is completely unacceptable,” she said.
Congress MP Manish Tewari said, “I have not seen or read that report, nor have I considered it. If the report is accurate, it is a serious matter, and the DGCA needs to take it very seriously and sensitively. The report on the Air India Ahmedabad plane crash has still not been made public, even though the law states that in the event of such an unfortunate accident, the report should be made public within one year.”
Congress MP Jebi Mather said, “It is very shocking, it is very inappropriate. This needs to be taken seriously. There are so many lives of people who travel in the airlines under the control of the pilot, and if the pilot is doing such things, this has to be taken with its due seriousness, and a clear message should go that this is not acceptable.”
Congress MP Sukhdeo Bhagat said, “I thank God that there was a safe landing. It’s a different matter that 17 people were injured in it. Whatever allows us to know the mental state of the captain and whether they consumed any intoxicants, I believe that even stricter action is needed. As accidents continue to happen repeatedly, the government should look into security measures to ensure passenger safety.”
Congress MP Pramod Tiwari told IANS, “This reflects the state of affairs under the government and the Ministry of Civil Aviation. When a person buys a ticket and boards a flight, the airline guarantees their safety, security and comfort. But what is happening here? A pilot under the influence of drugs is flying a passenger aircraft. I believe the government is responsible for this and should answer for it in Parliament.”
The pilot in command of the Air India aircraft from Phuket to Delhi, in which several passengers were injured after it suddenly lost altitude, has failed a second dope test as well, sources have confirmed.
AI-2379, carrying 137 passengers and eight crew members, was on its way to Delhi from Phuket on August 4 when it experienced a sudden loss of altitude of 300 feet during its cruise phase. At least 20 passengers and four crew members suffered injuries. Of these, two crew members sustained spinal injuries near the tailbone and neck, Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu said.
Sources had told NDTV on Sunday that the pilot had tested positive for psychoactive substances during the post-flight screening in Delhi. Another test was conducted some time later, and sources said on Tuesday that this was also positive. Specifically, the test reportedly confirmed that the pilot had smoked marijuana, which is commonly known as weed.
–IANS
jk/rad
