Air India Flight Incident: Air India Flight Lost Control for Four Seconds After Hydraulic Failure

Air India Flight Incident: A preliminary report has shed more light on the unusual incident involving an Air India flight from Phuket to Delhi that suddenly lost around 300 feet of altitude during the journey.

The aircraft, an Airbus A320neo, reportedly experienced a serious problem after all three of its main hydraulic systems stopped functioning at nearly the same time. According to the preliminary findings, important flight controls were affected for around four seconds.

The information came from analysis of the aircraft’s digital flight data recorder, commonly known as the black box. Airbus has been examining the data to understand what happened during the incident and why the aircraft briefly became difficult to control.

The failure affected systems including the elevators, ailerons and spoilers, which play an important role in controlling the aircraft’s movement and flight path. The autopilot also disengaged during the episode.

A stall warning then alerted the cockpit crew that the aircraft was losing the required lift. The first officer responded by pushing the control stick forward and taking corrective action. The hydraulic systems recovered within a few seconds, allowing the crew to regain control of the aircraft.

The sudden change in altitude created a strong force inside the cabin. Several passengers and crew members were reportedly thrown from their seats and hit the aircraft’s ceiling, resulting in injuries.

The aircraft is around eight years old, and its flight data was sent to Airbus’s technical facility in Toulouse, France, for detailed analysis. Airbus reportedly shared its preliminary findings with Air India on August 5.

One possible explanation being examined is a problem involving a hydraulic pressure sensor or pressure switch. However, Airbus has not identified the sensor issue as the definite cause of the incident. Investigators are continuing to examine other possibilities before reaching a final conclusion.

Experts from Airbus and France’s Bureau of Enquiry and Analysis for Civil Aviation Safety have also reached Delhi to examine the aircraft. They are working with officials from India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau as part of the investigation.

The aircraft’s physical condition and various systems are being checked along with the recorded flight data. Investigators are expected to compare the technical evidence with information from the cockpit and maintenance records.

The incident has also brought attention to the conduct of the flight crew. Separate tests conducted after the incident reportedly showed that the captain tested positive for cannabis use. There were also claims from cabin crew regarding the captain’s behaviour during the flight.

These allegations are being examined separately from the technical investigation. A positive test result alone does not establish whether substance use had any role in the aircraft’s loss of control, and investigators will need to establish the circumstances before drawing conclusions.

Following the incident, Air India and Air India Express made dope testing mandatory for their pilots, according to reports.

The incident has therefore developed into two separate lines of inquiry. One focuses on the aircraft’s unusual hydraulic failure and the temporary loss of flight controls. The other concerns the medical and operational status of the cockpit crew.

For now, investigators have not announced a final cause for the aircraft’s sudden drop. The Airbus findings are preliminary, and the ongoing examination by Indian and French aviation authorities is expected to provide a clearer picture.

The flight eventually continued its journey and reached Delhi. The investigation will now focus on establishing why the three hydraulic systems were affected simultaneously and whether any other factor contributed to the incident.