New Delhi, Aug. 12 -- The pilot-in-command of an Air India flight that lost 300 feet in altitude during a Phuket-Delhi journey last week told investigators that he had been struggling with sleep and had been taking medication prescribed by a family doctor, Hindustan Times reported on Wednesday (12 August).

The disclosure comes days after a post-flight drug screening of the pilot returned a non-negative result, followed by a confirmatory test that was positive for marijuana. The pilot's account of his sleep difficulties and medication was given to the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) during its inquiry into the 4 August incident, according to people familiar with the matter cited by Hindustan Times.

The Air India flight AI23...