Air India Flight Experiences Brief Loss of Controls, Investigation Underway
An Air India Airbus A320, traveling from Phuket, Thailand to New Delhi, encountered a significant issue on August 4th. According to initial findings from Airbus, the aircraft lost control briefly due to failures in all three hydraulic systems.
The incident occurred over the Indian state of Odisha, with the flight experiencing a sudden drop of about 300 feet during its cruise. Fortunately, the aircraft managed to stabilize and landed safely in Delhi. However, the event resulted in injuries to 20 passengers and four crew members, leading Indian aviation authorities to classify it as a “serious” incident.
The aircraft’s emergency has prompted the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau of India to open an inquiry, supported by experts from Airbus and France’s Bureau of Enquiry and Analysis for Civil Aviation Safety (BEA).
Insights from Airbus
Airbus provided insight into the incident after analyzing data from the flight recorder. They revealed that for roughly four seconds, the aircraft’s elevators and ailerons—key parts that manage movement—were unresponsive. During this time, the plane tilted upward, despite the first officer attempting to correct it by pushing the nose down. Reports indicate that the hydraulic systems regained functionality shortly afterward.
While Airbus has not yet pinpointed the cause of the malfunction, they have requested that Air India conduct thorough checks on the aircraft’s systems and sensors. Additionally, they are asking for more detailed pilot accounts and the recent maintenance history concerning the hydraulic systems.
As of now, neither Airbus nor Air India has issued a public statement regarding their findings.
In related news, reports emerged earlier this week stating that the plane’s captain tested positive for marijuana following a confirmatory drug test. In response, Air India has decided to implement mandatory drug tests for all its pilots, exceeding the current regulatory requirements that mandate random testing of at least 10% of flight crews each year.
