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Airbus Team Joins Investigation
European planemaker Airbus said on Monday it would send specialists to assist an investigation into an Air India aircraft that suddenly lost altitude during a flight last week .
An Air India A320, operating flight AI2379 from Phuket to Delhi on August 4, unexpectedly dropped around 300 feet while cruising. The aircraft later stabilised and landed safely in Delhi. The incident left eight passengers and four crew members injured .
Indian authorities launched an investigation and secured the aircraft’s Flight Data Recorder and Cockpit Voice Recorder for examination.
Captain’s Substance Screening Positive
India’s civil aviation ministry said on Sunday that the flight’s captain had returned an initial positive screening result for psychoactive substances, with further laboratory testing underway . The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has ordered tests for all Air India pilots and has grounded the commander pending investigation.
Initial reports suggest the altitude loss may have occurred during a momentary handover of control between the pilot and co-pilot after an alarm sounded in the cockpit. The airline has temporarily suspended the pilots involved in the incident.
Airbus Commitment
Airbus said it was sending “technical advisors to support the investigation” and that it was “fully committed to supporting the investigation of the incident” . The planemaker stated it would “provide full cooperation and technical support to the authorities as they work to understand the causes of the incident.”
