New Delhi: France’s Bureau of Enquiry and Analysis for Civil Aviation Safety (BEA) and European aircraft manufacturer Airbus will send specialist teams to India to assist the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) in its inquiry into the serious incident involving an Air India Phuket-Delhi flight, sources said.
The teams are likely to arrive in New Delhi on Tuesday, according to the sources, who were cited in a report by news agency PTI.
The incident involved Air India flight AI2379, which was operated by an Airbus A320. The aircraft was enroute from Phuket to Delhi on August 4 when it suddenly descended by nearly 300 feet while cruising.
The aircraft stabilised after the unexpected altitude loss and later landed safely in Delhi.
The AAIB is investigating the incident under Annex 13 of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), which sets out international procedures for the investigation of aircraft accidents and incidents, as reported by News 18.
Technical Problems
According to sources cited by PTI, the aircraft encountered several technical and mechanical problems during the flight.
One of the reported problems was the disconnection of the autopilot. The co-pilot then took manual control of the aircraft and managed to regain control. Soon afterwards, however, a flight-control stall message appeared in the cockpit.
The sources also said that a number of indicator switches briefly went off during the flight. The aircraft was additionally subjected to severe turbulence as the crew dealt with the technical issues.
The aircraft reportedly suffered failures in all three of its hydraulic systems. Hydraulic systems use pressurised fluid to operate several key aircraft functions, including flight controls and other mechanical components.
The crew eventually managed to deal with the problems and continued the flight to Delhi, where the aircraft landed without further incident.
The technical failures, the sudden loss of altitude and the crew’s response will form part of the AAIB’s investigation.
Airbus Assistance
Airbus on Monday confirmed that it was sending a team of specialists to support the inquiry.
“In accordance with ICAO Annex 13, Airbus is providing technical assistance to the relevant investigating authorities. We are actively supporting the airline and will provide further information as it becomes available. A team of specialists is being dispatched to assist with the investigation,” an Airbus spokesperson said in a statement.
The manufacturer’s experts will provide technical assistance to the authorities examining the circumstances that led to the aircraft’s altitude loss and the series of technical problems reported during the flight.
The BEA is also joining the investigation. As the Airbus A320 involved in the incident was manufactured in France, the French agency is expected to participate in the probe and provide assistance to the Indian investigating authorities.
Recorders Secured
The authorities initiated the investigation on August 4, the same day that the aircraft experienced the sudden drop in altitude.
As part of the probe, the aircraft’s Flight Data Recorder and Cockpit Voice Recorder have been secured for examination. The two recorders are expected to provide information about the aircraft’s performance, cockpit exchanges, system warnings and the crew’s actions during the incident.
The AAIB will examine the sequence of events leading up to the altitude loss, including the reported autopilot disconnection, the flight-control stall message, the hydraulic failures and the severe turbulence.
17 People Injured
The incident also left passengers and members of the cabin crew injured.
Sources cited by PTI said at least 17 people were hurt. The Civil Aviation Ministry, in a statement issued on August 9, confirmed that some passengers and cabin crew members had sustained injuries, but did not provide a total figure.
The aircraft was carrying 137 passengers, including three infants, and eight crew members at the time of the incident.
The crew consisted of two pilots and six cabin crew members.
The aircraft landed safely in Delhi after the crew brought the situation under control. Details about the nature and severity of the injuries are expected to be examined as part of the investigation.
Pilot Screening
Both pilots underwent mandatory psychoactive-substance screening following the incident, in line with standard operating procedures.
The Civil Aviation Ministry said the initial screening of the pilot-in-command indicated that the sample required further analysis. The sample was subsequently sent to a designated laboratory for confirmatory testing.
The result of the confirmatory test was awaited.
