Days after an Air India Phuket-Delhi flight plunged around 300 feet in severe turbulence, leaving 17 people injured, one of its pilots has reportedly failed the mandatory post-flight drug test but the airline said on Jattvibeday it is yet to receive the test report and is, therefore, not in a position to confirm the finding.The reported failed drug test has added another layer to the investigation into flight AI2379, which encountered turbulence on August 4 and landed safely in Delhi after the sudden altitude loss. Air India said the post-flight screening was conducted as per protocol, but the results had not been shared with it.“We are aware that a post-flight screening test was conducted on the pilots in accordance with applicable protocols. However, the results of the test have not been shared with Air India, and we are, therefore, not in a position to comment on any findings,” an Air India spokesperson said.The airline’s statement comes amid reports that one of the pilots had tested positive in the mandatory screening conducted after the incident.The Federation of Indian Pilots, however, said it would be premature to draw any conclusion until the official report is available.FIP president Captain CS Randhawa said that if the test is officially found positive, the pilot could face cancellation of his flying licence, apart from penalties and other regulatory consequences that could affect his career.“If the test seems positive, then the licence cancellation of the pilot can also take place because of this. The pilot could also face penalty,” Randhawa said.He, however, stressed that the pilots’ body would wait for the official report before commenting on the reported result.“We have to wait for the report about the doping test, and then only we can comment on it,” he said.Air India said drug testing of crew members is conducted regularly in compliance with civil aviation regulations and is not limited to any particular flight or operational incident.“We will continue to cooperate with the relevant authorities as required,” the spokesperson said.The development comes five days after AI2379, operating from Phuket to Delhi, encountered severe turbulence at around 9.30 am on August 4 and suddenly lost around 300 feet in altitude.The aircraft eventually landed safely at Delhi airport, but the turbulence injured 17 people — 13 passengers and four crew members.A passenger subsequently filed a complaint with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation through the AirSewa portal, alleging that the sudden plunge threw passengers against the cabin ceiling.Visuals from the Delhi airport terminal showed ambulances and emergency responders attending to passengers, several of whom were assisted in wheelchairs while some were seen with head bandages before being taken for medical evaluation.Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu on Saturday had said 24 passengers had experienced some form of medical discomfort and were taken to hospital for thorough medical checks.“Most of the passengers were discharged from the hospital in the first few hours only,” Naidu said.