The captain of an Air Fiji Embraer EMB-110 which crashed in July, killing 17, had at least triple the normal dose of a disorientating antihystamine in his blood, according to toxicological test results.
A report released by Fiji's aviation minister reveals that blood tests on the captain detected a high dose of chlorpheniramine, an antihistamine capable of affecting concentration, psychomotor skills and exacerbating fatigue.
It had been alleged that the pilot had been drinking alcohol 4h before the flight, but the toxicology report indicates that blood alcohol levels were low (Flight International, 4-10 August).
In a preliminary report, the Australian Bureau of Air Safety Investigation, investigating at Fiji's request, writes that wreckage disposition and witnesses suggest the aircraft broke up in flight and hit mountainous terrain about 15min after take-off from Suva.
Source: Flight International
