Air India flight experiences altitude loss and hydraulic failure

An Air India flight traveling from Phuket to Delhi experienced a significant altitude loss and hydraulic failure on August 4, resulting in injuries to 17 people. The aircraft, an Airbus A320, landed safely following the incident.

Captain Sam Thomas, President of the Airline Pilots’ Association of India, described the failure as unprecedented for this aircraft type. While some initial reports attributed the event to turbulence, Thomas noted that the investigation must proceed step-by-step to determine the exact cause. He cautioned against premature conclusions regarding fault, emphasizing that the investigation is a fact-finding mission intended to understand systemic failures rather than apportion blame.

Investigators have secured the flight recorders, and specialists from Airbus are assisting in the process. The inquiry will examine a wide range of factors, including atmospheric conditions, aircraft systems, maintenance, and crew performance, to establish a complete causal sequence.