Airbus Deploying Specialists to Support Investigation Into Air India A320 Sudden Altitude Loss
European aircraft manufacturer Airbus confirmed on Monday that it is sending technical specialists to assist with the investigation into a sudden loss of altitude experienced by an Air India aircraft last week.
The incident occurred on August 4, when an Airbus A320 registered as VT-EXO, operating flight AI2379 en route from Phuket (Thailand) to Delhi (India), suffered an unplanned descent of approximately 300 feet (91 meters) while in cruise flight. Following the altitude drop, the aircraft stabilized and subsequently made a safe landing at its destination in the Indian capital.
Casualty Report and Recovery of Flight Recorders
As a direct result of the abrupt altitude change, a total of 12 people onboard sustained injuries:
- Eight passengers were injured.
- Four members of the cabin crew were injured.
On the day of the incident, the Indian government formally launched an investigation into the causes of the event. As part of standard initial protocols, aviation safety authorities secured the aircraft’s Flight Data Recorder (FDR) and Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) for subsequent technical analysis.
Toxicology Testing of the Flight Crew
Within the framework of the investigative process, India’s Ministry of Civil Aviation reported on Sunday that the aircraft’s captain tested positive in a preliminary screening test for psychoactive substances.
In light of this initial result, the regulatory agency has requested additional laboratory testing to confirm the findings and evaluate any potential correlation with the flight’s sequence of events.
The deployment of Airbus specialists will focus on assisting with the flight’s chronological reconstruction through cross-analysis of aircraft telemetry, data extracted from the flight recorders (“black boxes”), and system behavior. The investigation remains open under the jurisdiction of Indian civil aviation authorities to determine the probable cause of the sudden loss of altitude.
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