New Delhi : A preliminary probe into a sudden loss of altitude on an Air India Phuket-Delhi flight earlier last month has confirmed that the aircraft suffered a momentary loss of control due to systems failures. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau has drawn short of identifying the root cause of the incident, which led to injuries to 24 passengers and crew (as is the nature of such prelim reports).
The aircraft’s flight-control system first detected a loss of pressure in the green hydraulic system. Within seconds, the blue and yellow hydraulic systems also showed a loss of pressure. The autopilot disengaged and a continuous repetitive chime sounded. A stall warning was subsequently triggered for two seconds. The aircraft experienced a significant altitude upset during the incident. It initially climbed 372 feet before descending 292 feet from its assigned FL360.
The incident also resulted in injuries inside the cabin. With the seat-belt signs off, passengers and cabin crew were thrown around during the altitude upset. A total of 24 people — 20 passengers and four cabin crew members — received medical treatment after the aircraft landed in Delhi. Twenty people were discharged after treatment for minor injuries, while four people with serious injuries were hospitalised.
Despite the incident, the flight crew decided against diverting to the nearest en-route airport and continued towards its scheduled destination, Delhi. The crew later contacted Delhi Air Traffic Control and requested medical priority. The aircraft landed safely on Runway 11L at Indira Gandhi International Airport at 11 AM IST and taxied to its parking bay under its own power, arriving at 11:07 AM IST.
Blood samples from both pilots were then sent to a pathological laboratory for confirmatory testing. The PIC’s confirmatory blood test was also found to be non-negative, while the co-pilot’s sample remained negative. The AAIB described the confirmed finding concerning the PIC as a “serious concern” and recommended that the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) take appropriate action on priority to address the abuse of psychoactive substances.
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