Air India A320 briefly lost key flight controls during 300-foot drop
An Airbus analysis shows the plane briefly lost key flight controls after losing pressure in all three hydraulic systems during the Aug 4 incident.
On August 4, an Air India Airbus A320 experienced a sudden 300-foot drop, injuring 24 passengers and briefly losing critical flight controls. Despite the altitude loss, the aircraft managed to land safely in Delhi. Airbus preliminary analysis revealed that the plane's elevators and ailerons, responsible for pitch and roll, were rendered inoperable for about four seconds.
During this time, the aircraft pitched upward. The first officer applied a full nose-down input, but there was no immediate response from the flight-control surfaces before they recovered. Airbus requested Air India to inspect the plane's systems and sensors, but the root cause remains undetermined. Indian authorities classified the incident as serious, and the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau is probing the matter with technical support from Airbus and France's BEA.
The flight's captain tested positive for marijuana in a subsequent drug test, though no connection to the incident has been established. In response to the incident, Air India initiated mandatory substance testing for all pilots.
Written by urgent.news from Free Malaysia Today's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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