The Air India pilot who was operating a Phuket-Delhi flight when the aircraft abruptly dropped around 300 feet had been taking prescribed medication for sleep-related problems, according to an internal airline safety report.

The report, accessed by NDTV, says the pilot had been experiencing difficulty sleeping because of personal circumstances. He reportedly told investigators that despite attempting to rest during the layover in Phuket, he struggled to fall asleep.

The development comes as the pilot faces scrutiny after reportedly testing positive for marijuana in two separate drug tests.

What happened on the Phuket-Delhi flight?

Flight AI-2379, an Airbus A320neo, was carrying 137 passengers and eight crew members when it experienced a sudden loss of altitude on August 4 while travelling from Phuket to Delhi.

The aircraft dropped by approximately 300 feet over Odisha, according to reports. At least 20 passengers and four crew members were injured, along with four members of the cabin crew.

The aircraft eventually reached Delhi and landed safely.

Pilot cited sleep problems and duty schedule

In his statement to the airline's safety investigators, the pilot disclosed that he had been dealing with sleep difficulties for some time and had received medication from his family doctor.

He said sleeping during the Phuket stopover had remained difficult. He also said he tried to rest but felt that walking or light physical activity could help him sleep better.

The pilot also raised concerns about the way his roster was structured. While he acknowledged that his duties remained within prescribed legal rest requirements, he said the scheduling left limited daytime recovery time.

For the outbound flight, he was required to report at 12:10 am, meaning preparations began well before that time. After completing the flight and post-landing procedures in Phuket, he said reaching the hotel generally took another 90 minutes to two hours, further reducing the time available for daytime sleep.

For the return journey, he said he had to wake up at approximately 3 am IST.

Pilot's conduct after altitude drop under scrutiny

The incident report also raises questions about the pilot's actions during the flight.

According to the report, the pilot was not in the cockpit when the aircraft experienced the sudden altitude loss, with the co-pilot handling the aircraft at the time.

He subsequently went into the cabin to assess passengers and crew members who had been injured. Sources cited in the report said he also asked passengers not to record him or the aircraft.

After the aircraft reached Delhi, sources said the pilot appeared unsteady and needed assistance to sit down.

He was also reportedly assisted by an investigating officer while providing a urine sample as part of the investigation.

What happened during the Phuket stay?

The pilot's conduct during the preceding Delhi-Phuket sector has also come under examination.

According to sources, he had briefly left the cockpit to use the washroom and, following procedure, a cabin crew member was called to occupy his seat while he was away.

Sources said the crew member struggled with the operation and was subsequently reprimanded by the pilot.

The pilot later attempted to smooth things over and reportedly invited the crew members to a gathering in Phuket before the return journey.

Drug test results add to scrutiny

The investigation has intensified after the pilot reportedly returned positive results for marijuana in two drug tests.

Both pilots have currently been removed from the roster while the circumstances surrounding the incident are examined.

The inquiry is expected to consider several factors, including the pilot's reported sleep difficulties, medication, duty schedule, alleged drug-test results and his actions before and during the altitude-loss incident.

The aircraft itself landed safely in Delhi, but the combination of the sudden altitude change, injuries to people on board and questions surrounding the cockpit crew has prompted a detailed safety investigation.