NEW DELHI: Air India’s outgoing CEO reportedly met government officials on Tuesday amid the ongoing row after the Delhi-Phuket flight turbulence incident.The airlines’ outgoing CEO Campbell Wilson met senior officials of MoCA and DGCA regarding the flight that suddenly lost about 300 feet of altitude last week, reported PTI, citing sources. The sources said the civil aviation ministry called the three senior airline executives for a meeting in the wake of the August 4 incident.Executive advisor to Tata Sons Chairman and former Civil Aviation Secretary Pradeep Singh Kharola as well as Air India’s Head of Flight Safety Deepak Joshi also attended the meeting, they said.However, Reuters reported, citing sources that the civil aviation minister has summoned the CEO. No confirmation has come from the airlines or the government.Although, as Campbell was leaving, after meeting thesenior officials of MoCA and DGCA, he said, “We were just giving an update on the status of the investigation…It is up to him (MoCA Minister) to give an update.”The meeting comes a day after the government advanced a probe into the incident, which involved the Airbus A320 suddenly losing about 300 feet of altitude during the flight. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has classified the incident as serious and is examining the circumstances surrounding the sudden descent.The pilot-in-command is also under scrutiny after his psychoactive substance screening test on arrival was found to be “not negative”. The sample has been sent to a designated laboratory for confirmatory testing, with the final report awaited, the aviation ministry said.
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“Further action, as appropriate, will be taken based on the outcome of the investigation and confirmatory test results,” the ministry said.Under DGCA rules, a pilot whose initial screening is non-negative must be immediately removed from safety-sensitive duties until the confirmatory report is received. Both pilots of the August 4 Air India flight have been taken off flying duty pending the investigation.The AI 2379 flight was carrying 145 people from Phuket to Delhi when it suddenly lost altitude, injuring passengers and crew. The aircraft landed safely in Delhi, but 17 people were hospitalised.The AAIB probe is examining both possible mechanical issues and pilot behaviour. Investigators are also expected to analyse the aircraft’s flight data and cockpit voice recorders to establish the sequence of events.
