- On August 4, Air India flight AI2379 from Phuket to Delhi experienced a sudden 300-foot descent, injuring 24 people on board, after the aircraft registered a loss of hydraulic pressure that briefly left key flight controls unresponsive, according to a preliminary analysis reviewed by Reuters.
- All three hydraulic systems registered pressure losses in quick succession, leaving the elevators and ailerons unresponsive for about four seconds.
- During the four-second interval, the first officer applied a full nose-down input but received no direct response from the flight-control surfaces before the hydraulic systems recovered.
- The crew managed to recover control and landed safely in Delhi with 145 people aboard.
- Indian authorities have classified the incident as a serious incident, and an investigation is ongoing with technical assistance from Airbus.
- The Airbus aircraft VT-EXO was officially delivered to Air India on November 21, 2018.
- Air India initially described the event as turbulence-related but later clarified that the aircraft had suffered a sudden loss of altitude.
An Air India Airbus A320 experienced a serious incident on August 4, when it dropped approximately 300 feet during flight AI2379 from Phuket to Delhi, injuring 24 passengers and crew members. Preliminary analysis by Airbus indicated that all three hydraulic systems failed in rapid succession, leading to a brief loss of control.167
During the incident, the aircraft's elevators and ailerons became unresponsive for about four seconds, leaving the pilots unable to maneuver the plane. The first officer attempted a full nose-down input but received “no direct response” from the flight-control surfaces. The aircraft then pitched upward before the hydraulic systems recovered, allowing the crew to regain control and land safely in Delhi with 145 people aboard.2345
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The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau of India has classified the event as serious and is conducting an investigation with technical assistance from Airbus and France's BEA. Airbus has requested Air India to conduct tests on the hydraulic systems and inspect for possible structural damage due to forces exceeding specified limits during the altitude change. The manufacturer has not yet determined the cause of the hydraulic pressure loss, which could stem from various issues, including sensor or wiring problems.
Air India initially attributed the incident to turbulence but later clarified that it involved a sudden loss of altitude. The investigation continues as authorities seek to understand the technical failures that led to this alarming incident.
“The incident occurred on flight AI2379 from Phuket to Delhi, which landed safely with 145 people aboard despite the altitude loss. Airbus has not identified the cause, and the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau is investigating with technical assistance from Airbus and France's BEA.”
Airways Magazine
