New Delhi: An internal Air India Flight Safety report, accessed by NDTV, has shed light on the chaotic moments aboard flight AI-2379, an Airbus A320 carrying 137 passengers and eight crew members from Phuket to Delhi on August 4. The report details a sudden loss of 300 feet in altitude during the cruise phase, which resulted in injuries to at least 20 passengers and four crew members.
According to the ‘Flight Safety Department: Inflight Upset Stall Warning Event’ report, the aircraft’s captain was standing behind the first officer’s seat, discussing the air conditioning system, when aural and Electronic Centralised Aircraft Monitor (ECAM) alerts simultaneously warned of an impending stall. The autopilot disengaged, and the aircraft’s nose pitched up sharply. The first officer, who was at the controls, initiated a trained stall-recovery response by pushing the nose down.
This maneuver led to a sharp negative-g excursion, causing the aircraft to accelerate downward faster than gravity. For a brief period, unstrapped objects and individuals, including the crew, experienced weightlessness. The captain, still out of his seat, described witnessing the first officer and loose items in the cockpit float upwards. An amber caution on the Engine Warning Display later confirmed that the jet had exceeded its -1g structural limit during the incident.
The captain’s account details his efforts to steady the first officer mid-air while also being thrown around the cockpit. He then worked his way back to his seat, activating the seatbelt sign. Once secured, he took control, pushing the throttle to maximum continuous thrust to arrest the loss of speed and altitude. The aircraft lost a maximum of 300 feet before recovery.
After the aircraft stabilized, both pilots assessed the situation and checked on each other. Kolkata Air Traffic Control was notified, but the pilots ultimately decided to land in New Delhi.
The report also mentions several cascading cautions that appeared after recovery. A “door arm forward emergency” caution appeared on the ECAM and reappeared twice. The crew followed manufacturer guidelines and checklists, finding all system parameters normal and judging the caution signs as potentially spurious. A separate ‘transient hydraulic caution’ was cleared using the aircraft’s reset procedure. The crew stated that all actions adhered to standard operating procedures and normal cockpit task-sharing.
However, engineering logs revealed a more serious underlying issue. Within the same minute, the aircraft registered low pressure in the Green hydraulic system, then in the Blue and Yellow systems together, and finally in all three, though not necessarily simultaneously. Hydraulic systems are crucial for powering flight controls, landing gear, brakes, and other mechanical components.
Concurrently, the autopilot disengaged, and a left/right elevator fault was indicated. This suggests a potential compromise to the aircraft’s pitch control, which is the pilot’s ability to raise or lower the aircraft’s nose. Investigators are examining whether this issue caused the sudden pitch-up. This combination of triple hydraulic system indications is considered serious, and possibly unprecedented, given that the A320’s three independent hydraulic systems are designed for redundancy. Maintenance teams conducted follow-up engineering checks and repairs after the aircraft landed in Delhi.
Following coordination with the cabin crew, the captain left the cockpit to inspect the cabin. He was informed that several passengers and two cabin crew members had sustained serious injuries, and cabin equipment was damaged. Air Traffic Control was requested to arrange an ambulance, medical staff, and orthopedic specialists, as well as to allocate a parking bay closest to the runway exit for a faster medical response. The aircraft landed safely in Delhi, though the assigned bay was farther from the runway than requested.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has classified this event as a serious incident. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is investigating under the International Civil Aviation Organisation’s Annex 13 framework, with technical assistance from Airbus and France’s BEA.
In a standard procedure following any serious occurrence, both pilots underwent mandatory post-flight psychoactive substance screening. While the first officer’s result was clear, sources revealed on Tuesday that the captain failed both tests, with the second test reportedly confirming marijuana use. Both pilots have been removed from flying duties.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation stated that the AAIB has commenced its investigation, systematically collecting and examining all relevant technical, operational, medical, and human-factor evidence. This includes the aircraft and its systems, recorded flight data, operational and maintenance records, medical information, and interviews with involved personnel. The ministry emphasized that all material evidence will be thoroughly examined before any conclusions are drawn.
Air India’s outgoing CEO, Campbell Wilson, met with senior officials from the Ministry of Civil Aviation on Tuesday. Minister Ram Mohan Naidu reiterated that the incident is being taken very seriously. He stressed the ministry’s top priority for aviation safety and that there should be no compromise from any party, including regulators or airlines.
