Air India flight that lost 300 feet altitude suffered hydraulic failures
An Air India A320 that suddenly lost around 300 feet in altitude while flying from Phuket to Delhi last week suffered multiple technical glitches, including
An Air India 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 and an autopilot disconnect, sources said on Monday. Flight AI2379, operated by Airbus A320 aircraft VT-EXO, was cruising on August 4 when it lost altitude, leaving at least 17 passengers and crew members injured. The aircraft later stabilised and landed safely in Delhi. Read Full Story Sources said the autopilot disconnected during the flight, after which the co-pilot took manual control. Soon afterwards, a flight-control stall message appeared. Several indicator switches also briefly went off as the aircraft encountered other technical and mechanical problems, along with mid-air turbulence. The aircraft also suffered failures in its hydraulic systems, which are critical to several functions, including flight controls. Investigators will examine the sequence of these failures and whether they were linked to the sudden loss of altitude. The crew eventually stabilised the aircraft and continued the flight to Delhi.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has classified the occurrence as a “Serious Incident”, with the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau probing the circumstances surrounding it. AIRBUS, FRENCH INVESTIGATORS TO ASSIST PROBE The AAIB investigation is being conducted under Annex 13 of the International Civil Aviation Organization, which lays down the framework for investigating aircraft accidents and serious incidents. Teams from Airbus and French aviation accident investigation agency BEA are expected to assist Indian investigators. France is participating because Airbus, the manufacturer of the A320, is headquartered there. Airbus said it was dispatching specialists to assist with the investigation. “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. Investigators are expected to examine the aircraft’s systems, flight data and cockpit recordings to establish what triggered the sudden drop and the sequence in which the reported technical failures occurred.
17 INJURED, INCLUDING CABIN CREW The flight was carrying 137 passengers, including three infants, along with eight crew members — two pilots and six cabin crew. At least 17 people were injured, including four cabin crew members. Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu had earlier said the turbulence lasted around five minutes and that some crew members suffered spinal and neck injuries requiring medical attention. Passengers had described a sudden and frightening drop inside the cabin. One passenger said she immediately grabbed her grandson and fastened his seatbelt when the aircraft began losing altitude. She claimed she suffered rib injuries during the incident, while another young child was thrown towards the rear of the aircraft. The passenger accounts form part of the wider information surrounding the incident but have not independently established what caused the altitude loss. PILOT’S SAMPLE SENT FOR CONFIRMATORY TEST The incident has also drawn attention because of the mandatory psychoactive substance screening conducted on the pilots after the flight.
The BriefWire