An Air India flight from Phuket, Thailand, to Delhi experienced a sudden mid-air drop of around 300 feet on August 4, leaving 24 people injured, according to a preliminary report by the government’s aircraft accident investigation body.
The flight, AI 2379, was carrying 145 people including passengers and crew. Investigators said that while cruising at about 36,000 feet, the aircraft’s hydraulic systems saw successive pressure drops, leading to the autopilot disconnecting.
The report noted the aircraft climbed about 372 feet above its assigned altitude before descending up to 292 feet. Within seconds, all three hydraulic systems began functioning again, and the aircraft later landed safely in Delhi.
Investigators said no seat-belt warning was issued during the incident, contributing to injuries. Twenty passengers and four crew members received medical treatment.
Key evidence including the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder has been secured, and hydraulic components have been removed for examination. The report also said neither the crew nor air traffic control reported bad weather at the time, and drug tests found the co-pilot’s sample normal while the pilot’s initial and confirmatory blood tests were positive; action has been recommended, with the probe continuing.
