Airbus and French agency to join probe into Phuket flight
Pilot Behaviour, Technical Issues Under Scanner
European aerospace giant Airbus and France's Bureau of Enquiry and Analysis for Civil Aviation Safety will collaborate on the investigation into the sudden altitude loss experienced by an Air India A320 flight from Phuket to Delhi, carrying 145 passengers. Led by India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), the probe is examining both mechanical issues and pilot behavior.
The incident, described by sources as a "close shave," saw the aircraft land safely in Delhi, but 17 passengers were hospitalized with injuries. The captain's drug screening test came back negative, though the confirmatory result is still pending. One pilot fell in the cockpit and required assistance, while another experienced a stall warning and had to manually stabilize the plane.
Airbus is sending its team to India to inspect the aircraft and cooperate with investigators. The flight data recorder will provide insights into mechanical failures, while the cockpit voice recorder will reveal what occurred on the flight deck. Airbus has provided technical assistance and is actively supporting the investigation.
A potential cause being considered is a rare triple hydraulic failure, which could have been triggered by either the rapid descent or a sudden air pocket causing turbulence.
Written by urgent.news from Times of India's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
