Air India Phuket-Delhi Flight: Hydraulic System Failed Three Times, Aircraft Dropped 300 Feet

A major revelation has emerged regarding the Air India flight from Phuket to Delhi that encountered severe turbulence on August 4. According to sources, the aircraft faced several serious technical problems during the flight, including three failures of its hydraulic system and an unexpected disconnection of the autopilot mode. Sources said that immediately after the situation developed, the co-pilot took manual control of the aircraft. Several indicator switches on the aircraft also reportedly stopped functioning for some time. The technical problems caused strong jolts during the flight, following which the aircraft suddenly dropped by around 300 feet. The pilots, however, managed to regain control and stabilise the aircraft before landing safely in Delhi. The incident involved Air India flight AI2379, operated by an Airbus A320 aircraft with registration VT-EXO. The flight was travelling from Phuket to Delhi on August 4 when it suddenly lost altitude by approximately 300 feet before being brought back under control. BEA and Airbus Teams to Assist in Investigation France’s aircraft accident investigation agency, BEA, and aircraft manufacturer Airbus are sending teams to India to assist the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) in its probe into the incident involving the Air India Phuket-Delhi flight. Sources said the teams are expected to reach New Delhi on Tuesday. The investigation is being conducted by the AAIB in accordance with the rules of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). An Airbus spokesperson said on Monday that the company was sending a team of experts to assist with the investigation. The spokesperson said Airbus was providing technical support to the relevant investigation authorities in accordance with ICAO rules and was extending its full cooperation to the airline. The company also said that further information would be shared as it becomes available. 17 People Injured During Incident The Air India flight was carrying 137 passengers, including three children, along with eight members of the crew. During the incident and turbulence, 17 people, including some passengers and cabin crew members, were injured. The AAIB is continuing its detailed investigation into the incident. The probe is expected to examine the technical problems reported during the flight, including the hydraulic system failures, autopilot disconnection and the aircraft’s sudden drop in altitude. Despite the serious technical difficulties and turbulence, the pilots managed to stabilise the aircraft and complete the journey safely, with the flight eventually landing in the national capital.