Jagran Correspondent, New Delhi: An Air India flight from Phuket to Delhi is under scrutiny following a serious incident over Odisha on August 4 that left 13 passengers and four cabin crew members injured. Air India flight AI 2379, carrying 137 passengers, was reportedly affected by a sudden and severe in-flight event. But what exactly happened aboard the aircraft, and what is the precise truth behind the incident?
Those questions can be answered conclusively only after the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) completes its investigation and submits its final report.
However, while the official investigation remains underway, a number of claims and accounts have emerged, including information reportedly linked to the aircraft’s technical records.
Initial reports attributed the incident to bad weather and described it as in-flight turbulence. However, information reportedly emerging from technical records and sources points to the possibility of a major failure involving the aircraft’s hydraulic and flight-control systems.
Until the final investigation report is released, these claims remain subject to verification. They raise important questions about what happened aboard AI 2379, particularly amid reports that the aircraft suddenly descended by approximately 300 feet, throwing passengers from their seats.
Possible Malfunction in Hydraulic and Flight-Control Systems
According to Jagran.com, citing sources, the aircraft’s automated post-flight maintenance report indicates that approximately two and a half hours after takeoff, a sequence of failures involving the hydraulic and flight-control systems began.
The Airbus A320neo is equipped with three independent hydraulic systems—red, blue and green—which provide power to several critical aircraft functions and controls, including the brakes, elevators and nose wheel.
According to the report, nine fault messages were recorded across the three hydraulic systems within a span of just one minute, with the messages relating to the systems individually as well as collectively.
If confirmed, such a sequence would be significant because the hydraulic systems play a critical role in the operation of several essential aircraft controls.
Autopilot Disconnected as Aircraft Pitched Up
Sources further claim that the autopilot disconnected shortly afterward and that the aircraft’s front tip of the body began pitching upward. This reportedly triggered a stall warning, indicating a potential risk of losing lift.
The pilot then took manual control of the aircraft and attempted to push the nose down to regain control.
During the incident, the aircraft reportedly descended by approximately 300 feet at a very high rate, causing passengers to be thrown from their seats and hit the aircraft’s ceiling.
Aviation experts have noted that simultaneous problems involving all three hydraulic systems would be highly unusual. If the reported sequence of events is confirmed by investigators, it could raise questions about the aircraft’s technical condition, maintenance history and pre-flight and ground-check procedures.
Air India initially attributed the incident to "turbulence".
However, in subsequent statements, including statements issued by the Ministry of Civil Aviation, the word “turbulence” was no longer used. The AAIB subsequently classified the occurrence as a “serious incident” and launched a formal investigation.
It has also been reported that Air India approached aircraft manufacturer Airbus seeking a response regarding the alleged technical failure.
At this stage, however, it would be premature to conclude that a hydraulic or flight-control system failure caused the incident. The AAIB’s investigation will have to establish whether the reported fault messages were directly connected to the aircraft’s movements and whether any technical malfunction contributed to the injuries.
Safety Standards, Passenger Claims and Questions Over Drug Testing
The incident has also raised questions beyond the aircraft’s technical systems, including concerns about the physical and mental fitness of the cockpit crew.
Following the incident, some passengers reportedly raised concerns that the pilot may have been under the influence of intoxicants or may not have been fully alert mentally.
These allegations have added another sensitive dimension to the investigation. However, no conclusion can be drawn until the relevant test results and investigation findings are available.
In an emergency or potentially life-threatening situation, such as a major hydraulic or flight-control malfunction, pilots are required to remain fully alert and capable of responding quickly to changing circumstances.
In view of the risks associated with substance use in aviation, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) introduced mandatory random testing requirements in 2022 for flight crew, air traffic control (ATC) personnel and maintenance staff. The objective is to ensure that personnel performing safety-critical duties are not under the influence of narcotic or psychotropic substances or alcohol.
India has also witnessed cases in the past in which senior pilots were found to have consumed alcohol during pre-flight Breath Analyser (BA) tests, resulting in the suspension of their licences.
Against this backdrop, the AAIB investigation is examining not only the reported technical issues including the nine fault messages recorded within a single minute but also the crew’s compliance with safety procedures, medical fitness requirements, and drug and alcohol testing protocols.
What the Investigation Has Established So Far
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is investigating the incident, which it has classified as a serious incident.
In accordance with standard operating procedures (SOPs), both flight crew members underwent the prescribed psychoactive-substance screening. The screening test conducted on the Pilot-in-Command (PIC) indicated a result requiring confirmatory testing.
Accordingly, the samples have been forwarded to the designated laboratory for confirmatory analysis, and the final report is awaited.
Both flight crew members have been taken off the roster by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). Further action, as appropriate, will be taken based on the outcome of the investigation and the confirmatory test results.
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For now, several key questions remain unanswered.
Was the incident caused by severe turbulence, a technical malfunction, or a combination of factors? Were the reported hydraulic-system fault messages directly responsible for the aircraft’s sudden movement? Did the autopilot disconnect as a consequence of a system failure? And did any human-factor issue contribute to the severity of the incident?
These questions cannot be conclusively answered on the basis of preliminary reports, passenger accounts or technical claims alone.
The AAIB’s final report will ultimately have to establish the sequence of events, identify the immediate and underlying causes, and determine whether any technical, operational, maintenance or human factors contributed to the incident.
Until that report is released, the claims surrounding AI 2379 should be treated as allegations or preliminary findings, not as the final truth.