European aircraft manufacturer Airbus announced on Monday that it will deploy a team of specialists to support the ongoing investigation into a sudden altitude loss experienced by an Air India flight last week. The incident involved an Airbus A320 operating flight AI2379, which was en route from Phuket to Delhi on August 4.
During the flight, the aircraft unexpectedly descended approximately 300 feet while cruising at altitude. Fortunately, the pilots managed to regain control, and the plane safely landed at Delhi airport. Despite the safe landing, the abrupt drop caused injuries to eight passengers and four crew members onboard, prompting immediate concern from aviation authorities.
Following the event, Indian regulators initiated a thorough investigation, securing the aircraft’s Flight Data Recorder (FDR) and Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) for detailed analysis. These devices are crucial for understanding the sequence of events leading to the altitude loss and identifying any technical or human factors involved.
In a significant development, India’s civil aviation ministry revealed on Sunday that the flight’s captain had returned an initial positive screening for psychoactive substances. Further laboratory tests are currently underway to confirm these findings and assess their implications for the incident. Meanwhile, Airbus’s involvement is expected to provide technical expertise to assist investigators in uncovering the root cause of the sudden altitude drop and ensuring aviation safety standards are upheld.
