New Delhi: Airbus, after an initial assessment of the Air India AI2379 incident, has confirmed that the aircraft briefly lost all three of its hydraulic systems – and with them, critical flight controls – during its 300-feet altitude plunge that injured several passengers and crew on August 4.
After decoding of the aircraft’s Digital Flight Data Recorder (DFDR), the manufacturer found that the green, blue and yellow hydraulic systems were all temporarily affected during the incident – a near-simultaneous failure across the aircraft’s redundant hydraulic architecture that is now central to the investigation.
This preliminary report was sent to Air India on August 10, as reported by timesnow.in.
According to the report, the hydraulic failure led to a brief but critical loss of the aircraft’s elevators, ailerons and spoilers for approximately four seconds.
The autopilot (AP2) reportedly disconnected during the event, after which a full nose-down input was applied from the first officer’s side. The blue hydraulic system recovered first, followed by the yellow and green systems, gradually restoring control of the aircraft’s flight surfaces.
The preliminary analysis by Airbus has zeroed in on a specific fault – an issue involving the green hydraulic system’s pressure switch, identified as 1151GN.
The manufacturer has directed Air India to carry out detailed tests of the hydraulic systems, pressure switches and pressure transducers, and says inspections are necessary given that load exceedances were detected during the sudden altitude change.
The assessment remains preliminary at this stage, Airbus has stressed, with further system and structural checks likely required before a final resolution is reached.
The overall investigation into the Air India Phuket-Delhi flight incident has got more complicated after its pilot-in-command (PIC) reportedly tested positive for marijuana in a confirmatory drug test.
The PIC, whose identity has not been disclosed by Air India, initially tested positive for a psychoactive substance during a mandatory screening. A subsequent confirmatory test reportedly identified marijuana, sources said.
Some crew members also complained about his behaviour during the flight. However, it has not been established that he had any role to play in the aircraft losing altitude suddenly.
The Airbus A320neo, operating flight AI2379, was carrying 145 people, including 137 passengers and eight crew members, when it experienced the sudden altitude loss during cruise. At least 24 passengers were injured in the incident.
