AI flight incident: Hydraulic systems failed; pilot tested positive for psychoactive substance
An unsettling incident occurred when an Air India pilot's post-flight drug test returned a non-negative result for a psychoactive substance. This followed a dramatic altitude drop over Odisha, resulting in injuries to twenty passengers and four crew members. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau has identified this as a serious problem, calling for the Directorate General of Civil Aviation…
On August 4, Air India's A320 aircraft experienced a catastrophic failure of its three hydraulic systems while cruising at 36,000 feet between Phuket and Delhi. The green, blue, and yellow hydraulic systems lost pressure within seconds, triggering an autopilot disengagement, stall warning, and altitude upset. The pilot-in-command (PIC) tested positive for psychoactive substance use following the flight, prompting the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) to recommend that the DGCA take appropriate action.
Both pilots passed breathalyzer tests, but the PIC later tested positive for psychoactive substance use in a follow-up blood test. The co-pilot tested negative on both tests. The hydraulic failure occurred within a five-second window, causing the aircraft to gain and then lose altitude. Passengers and crew were thrown around the cabin, and 24 people required medical attention, with four hospitalized for serious injuries.
The aircraft landed safely in Delhi after a 90-minute flight, despite the extensive cabin damage. The ongoing investigation will focus on the Power Transfer Unit, which was activated a week prior to the incident.
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.
