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A preliminary technical assessment has provided fresh details about the Air India AI2379 incident in which an Airbus A320 operating from Phuket to Delhi experienced a sudden drop of around 300 feet in altitude on August 4, 2026. According to official sources, the aircraft temporarily lost hydraulic pressure across its Green, Blue and Yellow systems, affecting key flight-control surfaces for several seconds.
The aircraft, identified as an Airbus A320 with registration VT-EXO and MSN 08470, recovered control and subsequently landed safely in Delhi. The incident injured passengers and crew members, prompting a detailed investigation by aviation authorities with technical assistance from Airbus.
However, investigators have not yet established a final root cause. The preliminary findings are intended to guide further inspections and testing rather than serve as a definitive conclusion.
What Happened on Air India AI2379?
The Air India AI2379 flight was operating from Phuket to Delhi when the aircraft experienced an unexpected altitude loss during cruise. The aircraft dropped approximately 300 feet before the crew regained control and continued the flight to Delhi.
The latest technical assessment indicates that the aircraft experienced a temporary loss of hydraulic pressure in all three hydraulic systems. These systems are essential to the operation of several primary flight-control surfaces.
According to the preliminary analysis reported by Reuters, the elevators and ailerons became temporarily unavailable for around four seconds. During that brief period, the aircraft’s pitch attitude changed, the autopilot disconnected and the aircraft lost altitude before the controls became responsive again.
1. Hydraulic Systems Came Under Scrutiny
The Airbus A320 uses three hydraulic systems known as Green, Blue and Yellow. These systems provide power for important aircraft functions, including flight controls.
In the Air India AI2379 incident, preliminary findings indicated sequential pressure loss involving all three hydraulic systems. The temporary loss of hydraulic pressure affected the operation of key flight-control surfaces.
Airbus has reportedly assessed the event as being consistent with a mechanical flight-control response rather than a primary electronic flight-control computer malfunction. The aircraft’s control surfaces entered a damping mode while the hydraulic pressure was unavailable.
This distinction is important because investigators are now examining the hydraulic side of the aircraft rather than treating the incident primarily as an electronic control-system failure.
2. Autopilot Disconnected During the Incident
Another important finding concerns the aircraft’s autopilot. During the sudden altitude change, the autopilot disconnected after the flight-control system was affected.
The loss of elevator and aileron functionality for several seconds meant that the pilots had to respond to an unexpected change in aircraft attitude. Once hydraulic pressure and flight-control functionality returned, the crew regained manual control.
The incident highlights the importance of multiple aircraft systems working together during flight. A temporary problem in one area can trigger changes in other systems and require immediate pilot intervention.
3. Airbus Recommends Detailed Technical Checks
Following its preliminary assessment, Airbus provided technical recommendations to Air India. The manufacturer asked the airline to conduct operational checks of the Green, Blue and Yellow hydraulic systems.
The recommended inspections reportedly include pressure switches, transducers and leak-measurement switches. Airbus also requested relevant maintenance records and additional flight-data information from the aircraft’s flight-guidance and flight-augmentation systems.
These checks are intended to help investigators understand exactly why hydraulic pressure was lost and how the three systems responded during the event.
The manufacturer has also asked for information covering the precise period in which the aircraft experienced the altitude loss. This data could help establish the sequence of events and identify whether a specific component or combination of factors contributed to the incident.
4. Structural Inspection Ordered After Sudden Manoeuvre
The Air India AI2379 incident involved a sudden change in aircraft movement that generated significant loads on the airframe. As a result, Airbus has recommended comprehensive structural inspections.
The inspections are important because investigators need to establish whether the sudden manoeuvre caused any structural stress or damage.
The flight crew has also been asked to provide detailed accounts of what they observed and experienced during the incident. Pilot observations can help investigators compare human experience with information recovered from the aircraft’s data systems.
The combination of flight-recorder information, maintenance records, component inspections and crew accounts will help authorities reconstruct the incident.
5. Investigation Into Air India AI2379 Continues
Although the preliminary technical findings point towards a hydraulic-system issue, the investigation into Air India AI2379 remains ongoing.
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau has urged caution and said conclusions should not be drawn before all available evidence has been examined. The final investigation is expected to consider the aircraft’s systems, maintenance history, flight data, crew reports and structural condition.
Reuters also reported that Airbus is assisting the investigation and that the aircraft’s flight-data recorder and cockpit voice recorder have been secured for analysis.
24 People Reportedly Injured
The sudden movement of the aircraft resulted in injuries to people on board. Reuters reported that 24 passengers and crew members were injured during the incident. The aircraft was carrying 137 passengers, including three infants, along with eight crew members, according to the information provided in the preliminary report.
Despite the sudden altitude loss and temporary flight-control issue, the pilots were able to regain control and land safely in Delhi.
The incident has since attracted significant attention because of the unusual combination of altitude loss, hydraulic-system pressure issues and temporary loss of primary flight-control functionality.
What Happens Next?
The next phase of the investigation will focus on identifying the exact reason behind the hydraulic pressure loss. Air India is expected to carry out the inspections and operational tests recommended by Airbus.
Investigators will also examine the aircraft’s recent maintenance history and data from flight-guidance and flight-augmentation computers.
The pressure transducers, switches and other relevant components will be examined to determine whether a mechanical failure, leakage, sensor issue or another factor contributed to the temporary loss of hydraulic pressure.
At this stage, it would be premature to identify one component or system as the definitive cause. The preliminary findings provide an important direction for investigators, but a final conclusion will depend on further technical evidence.
Air India AI2379 Incident Raises Important Safety Questions
The Air India AI2379 incident has highlighted the critical role played by aircraft hydraulic systems and primary flight controls. Although the aircraft experienced a serious moment during the flight, the crew ultimately regained control and completed a safe landing.
The ongoing investigation is expected to provide a clearer picture of what happened during those crucial few seconds and why all three hydraulic systems were affected.
For passengers and the aviation industry, the most important outcome will be identifying the underlying cause and implementing any necessary safety measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Until the investigation is completed, the hydraulic-pressure issue should be regarded as a preliminary finding rather than a confirmed final cause. Authorities and technical experts will continue examining the available evidence before issuing definitive conclusions.
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