Air India flight lost control for 4 seconds before 300ft plunge: Report

An Airbus operated by Air India suffered a mid-air fall of around 300 feet on August 4, injuring 24 people onboard, according to a preliminary Airbus analysis report cited by Reuters. The incident, which occurred during a flight from Phuket to Delhi, resulted in injuries to 20 passengers and four cabin crew members, with 17 of the injured requiring hospitalization.

The aircraft, with 137 passengers, six cabin crew members, and two pilots on board, was equipped with three hydraulic systems, all of which failed simultaneously. During the four-second period when the aircraft lost control over its pitch and roll, the elevators and ailerons, responsible for these functions, were unavailable. The first officer attempted to regain control by applying a full nose-down input, but it was not until the hydraulic systems were restored that the aircraft responded.

The cause of the failure remains under investigation, with Airbus requesting Air India to conduct checks on the plane's systems and sensors. The pilots' conduct is also under scrutiny, as a positive drug test for marijuana was returned on August 11 for the pilot-in-command, following a non-negative preliminary screening. The Aviation Ministry had confirmed the result on Sunday, stating that confirmatory tests showed a positive for marijuana.