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An Air India Airbus A320 that suddenly lost around 300 feet in altitude while flying from Phuket to Delhi last week suffered multiple technical glitches, including triple hydraulic failures, auto-pilot disconnection and turbulence, PTI sources said on Monday, as investigators probe the serious mid-air incident.
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has commenced an investigation into the August 4 incident involving Air India’s AI2379 flight, which was operated by A320 aircraft VT-EXO.
French aviation accident investigation agency BEA and aircraft manufacturer Airbus are expected to join the probe from Tuesday, sources said. The A320 was manufactured in France.
What Probe Suggests
According to PTI sources, the aircraft experienced multiple glitches during
the flight, including the auto-pilot mode getting disconnected. The co-pilot then manually recovered control of the aircraft, following which a flight-control stall warning was received.
Several indicator switches also went off briefly, while the aircraft encountered multiple technical and mechanical glitches, sources said. The plane additionally experienced turbulence during the flight.
Also Read: Air India Phuket-Delhi Pilot’s Dope Test ‘Not Negative’, Sent For Confirmatory Analysis
The aircraft also suffered triple hydraulic failures, PTI sources said. Hydraulic systems are critical to aircraft operations as they use pressurised fluid to power and control various mechanical components, including flight-control systems.
What Happened On August 4
The aircraft was cruising when it suddenly lost approximately 300 feet in altitude before stabilising and continuing its journey to Delhi, where it landed safely.
After the crew managed to address the issues, the aircraft continued its flight and landed safely in Delhi.
There were 137 passengers, including three infants, and eight crew members onboard the Phuket-Delhi flight. The Civil Aviation Ministry said injuries were reported among some passengers and cabin crew members following the incident.
The incident is being investigated by the AAIB under Annex 13 of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), which lays down procedures for aircraft accident and incident investigations.
Airbus on Monday said it was sending a team of specialists to assist the authorities in the probe.
“In accordance with ICAO Annex 13, Airbus is providing technical assistance to the relevant investigating authorities. We are actively supporting the airline and will provide further information as it becomes available. A team of specialists is being dispatched to assist with the investigation,” an Airbus spokesperson said.
Pilot’s Dope Test
The incident comes amid scrutiny over the pilot-in-command’s psychoactive substance test. The Civil Aviation Ministry had said on August 9 that the pilot underwent confirmatory testing after an initial screening indicated a result requiring further analysis. The confirmatory test result is awaited.
Also Read: ‘Pilot Seemed Intoxicated’: Air India Phuket-Delhi Passenger Claims Captain’s ‘Gait Didn’t Look Right’
The pilot’s test has triggered speculation over whether intoxication could have played a role in the incident.
Pilots’ grouping ALPA India said earlier on Monday that commonly used over-the-counter medicines can also result in a “non-negative” screening during psychoactive substance testing, underlining the need to await the confirmatory test before drawing conclusions.
However, the technical problems reported on the aircraft are now also a key focus of the investigation, with sources pointing to the multiple system failures experienced during the flight.
With inputs from PTI
