India, Aug. 12 -- The pilot-in-command (PIC) of an Air India Phuket-Delhi flight that plunged 300 feet last week was on medication over "sleep difficulty", people familiar with the matter told HT on Wednesday.

The development came a day after a confirmatory drug test showed the PIC had tested positive for marijuana during a post-flight screening, a finding that raises questions over passenger safety.

The latest revelation was made by the PIC before a team of the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) during the course of investigation, the people cited above said.

"In his statement to the AAIB, the PIC said he was experiencing sleep difficulty over a preceding period related to personal circumstances for which he was prescribed ...