Air India Phuket-Delhi flight that dropped 300 feet ‘logged nine warnings in a minute’: Report reveals details

A post-flight maintenance report for Air India flight AI2379, which experienced a sudden 300-foot altitude drop over Odisha on August 4, has revealed repeated warnings related to the aircraft's hydraulic systems, autopilot disconnections, and elevator flight control faults. The Airbus A320, operated by Air India, was en route from Phuket, Thailand, to New Delhi with 137 passengers and eight crew members on board.

The incident occurred shortly after takeoff when the aircraft dropped 300 feet over the Bay of Bengal. The maintenance log recorded nine warnings within a minute, including low-pressure alerts across hydraulic systems, low fluid levels in key reservoirs, elevator flight control faults, and autopilot disconnections. The aircraft stabilized and landed safely in Delhi later that day.

The incident has been classified as serious and is under investigation by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau. The pilot reportedly slept for 30 to 35 minutes during the flight and experienced a medical issue, testing positive for marijuana in a subsequent drug screening. The first officer was flying the aircraft, while the commander acted as the pilot monitoring.