Mid-Air Scare: Air India AI2379 Experienced Sudden Altitude Drop, 17 Injured, DGCA Probes

NEW DELHI: An Air India flight AI2379 from Phuket to Delhi experienced a mid-air scare on August 4, after it reportedly lost pilot control for 7 seconds and faced a sudden change in altitude, prompting a detailed investigation by the DGCA.

What Happened:

The Airbus A320neo (VT-EXO) was carrying 137 passengers, including 3 infants, and 8 crew members. According to the DGCA, the aircraft experienced a "momentary altitude variation" during the flight before stabilizing and landing safely at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport. Reports suggest the pilots lost control of the aircraft for about 7 seconds and all hydraulics reportedly failed during the incident, which is now part of the Airbus investigation report.

Injuries and Response:

13 passengers and 4 crew members were admitted to hospital for treatment of injuries. Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu visited Fortis and Medanta hospitals along with senior officials to check on the injured. 

Air India said all 13 passengers have been discharged, while 4 crew members were still under medical supervision. The Minister praised the cabin crew for continuing to assist passengers despite their injuries.

Investigation Underway:

The DGCA has launched a comprehensive probe into the incident. As part of the investigation:

The aircraft has been moved to a hangar for inspection

Flight Data Recorder (FDR) and Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR)* have been secured

 DGCA will examine passenger accounts, crew statements, pilot inputs, and technical data 

The probe will determine what led to the sudden change in altitude and whether the crew followed appropriate procedures. The Ministry of Civil Aviation said passenger safety remains its highest priority. 

Earlier Concerns:

In a separate development, sources said the investigation is also looking into whether the captain may have failed a dope test conducted after the incident, though Air India said it has not received the report yet. There is no official confirmation yet. 

 The investigation is ongoing. Official findings on the cause of the hydraulic failure and loss of control are awaited from DGCA and Airbus.