Triple Hydraulic Failure Suspected
A major technical fault, rather than weather-related turbulence, is now being cited as the reason behind the sudden altitude loss on an Air India flight from Phuket to Delhi on August 4.
The Airbus A320, operating as AI 2379, was carrying 137 passengers and eight crew members when it suddenly lost around 300 metres of altitude during the flight.
The incident left 17 people injured after passengers and crew members were thrown around inside the aircraft.
Pilots Reacted Within Seconds
Captain Sam Thomas, president of the Airline Pilot Association of India, said the aircraft was entering the Jharsuguda area in Odisha at around 10.30 pm when the Pilot-in-Command realised that the aircraft had suffered a triple hydraulic systems failure.
Hydraulic systems are crucial for the aircraft’s flight controls and general functioning.
According to Thomas, the Flight Captain immediately instructed the co-pilot to take the aircraft’s nose down. This resulted in the aircraft descending by around 300 metres.
The sudden dip created a negative G-forcecausing passengers to be thrown around inside the cabin. Thomas said the quick decision by the cockpit crew was responsible for saving countless lives.
Air India’s Account Changed After Incident
The incident was initially attributed to brief in-flight turbulence.
However, Air India’s later statement described the event as a sudden loss of altitude during cruisedropping the reference to turbulence.
The change in the airline’s description has added to questions surrounding what exactly caused the aircraft to lose altitude.
The revelation about the suspected hydraulic failure provides a different explanation from the weather-related account that initially emerged.
145 People Were On Board
There were 145 people on the aircraft when the incident occurred — 137 passengers and eight crew members.
The sudden altitude loss caused injuries to 17 peopleincluding passengers and cabin crew.
Despite the serious incident, the aircraft subsequently stabilised and completed its journey safely, preventing what could have been a much more severe accident.
Pilots’ Response Comes Under Focus
The quick response of the pilots is now emerging as one of the most significant aspects of the incident.
According to the ALPA India chief, the decision to immediately alter the aircraft’s attitude after identifying the hydraulic failure helped prevent a potentially catastrophic situation.
The incident is being investigated, and the technical fault explanation remains an important part of understanding what happened during the flight.
Safety Questions Remain
The episode highlights the importance of aircraft hydraulic systems, which play a critical role in controlling an aircraft.
While the flight ultimately landed safely, the combination of a major technical failure, a 300-metre altitude loss and injuries to 17 people makes the incident a serious aviation safety event.
The investigation will be crucial in determining the exact sequence of events, the cause of the hydraulic failure and whether any further action is required.
Summary
An Air India A320 operating from Phuket to Delhi on August 4 suffered a sudden 300-metre altitude loss that injured 17 people. ALPA India chief Captain Sam Thomas said the aircraft suffered a triple hydraulic systems failure around 10.30 pm near Jharsuguda, Odisha. He said the pilot’s quick decision to lower the aircraft’s nose helped save lives. The flight was carrying 137 passengers and eight crew members.
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