Air India flight AI2379 hydraulic failure prompts pilot drug review

On August 4, Air India flight AI2379 suffered a hydraulic failure during its journey from Phuket to Delhi, resulting in injuries to 24 of the 145 passengers and crew members on board. The Airbus A320-251N aircraft, registered VT-EXO, was flying at an altitude of Flight Level 360 when the problem occurred. The Green hydraulic system lost pressure first, followed by the Blue and Yellow systems within four seconds.

This caused the autopilot to disengage, and the plane to climb and then descend, with a stall warning sounding twice during the incident. The co-pilot was piloting the aircraft at the time, attempting to regain control before the pilot-in-command took over. Despite the incident, the crew opted not to divert and instead requested emergency medical assistance upon landing.

Twenty passengers and four cabin crew members were injured, with four of the injuries classified as serious. The Power Transfer Unit, listed under the Minimum Equipment List since July 28, was found to be involved in the failure. The pilot-in-command tested positive for psychoactive substances in a confirmatory blood test, while the co-pilot tested negative in both tests.

Both pilots passed alcohol breath tests. The AAIB recommended that the Directorate General of Civil Aviation take immediate action in response to the confirmatory positive result for the pilot-in-command. The incident has now been classified as a technical accident due to the significant injuries and cabin damage. Air India emphasized its commitment to safety, stating that it maintains zero tolerance for safety, fitness, or regulatory breaches and is cooperating with the investigation.