Published : 12 Aug 2026, 04:47 PM
Updated : 08 Sep 2026, 09:32 AM
An internal Air India Flight Safety report has shed light on the chaotic few seconds on board when the co-pilot at the controls of the Airbus A320 pushed the aircraft into a sharp nose-down attitude.
Indian news outlet NDTV, which accessed the report, said the nose-down attitude helped the aircraft quickly regain airspeed and avoid a stall.
Air India flight AI-2379, carrying 137 passengers and eight crew members, suffered a sudden loss of altitude while flying from Phuket to Delhi on Aug 4, injuring at least 20 passengers and four crew members.
A flight safety report says the Airbus A320 briefly went into a severe nose-down manoeuvre after its autopilot disengaged and stall warnings sounded. The aircraft lost up to 300 feet before the pilots regained control.
The captain was standing behind the first officer’s seat, discussing the aircraft’s air-conditioning system, when the stall warnings sounded.
The first officer, who was flying the aircraft, immediately pushed the nose down as part of the trained stall-recovery procedure.
The manoeuvre caused a sharp negative-g excursion, briefly leaving the aircraft in a near-weightless state.
The captain said he saw the first officer and loose objects in the cockpit float upwards.
He himself was thrown around before making his way back to his seat and activating the seatbelt sign.
Once strapped in, he took control and applied maximum continuous thrust to recover the aircraft.
An amber warning later indicated that the aircraft had exceeded its negative-1g structural limit.
Injuries In Cabin
After stabilising the aircraft, the pilots informed Kolkata Air Traffic Control and assessed the situation before deciding to continue to Delhi.
The aircraft’s systems generated several warnings, including a “door arm forward emergency” caution and a transient hydraulic warning. The pilots followed the manufacturer’s checklists and found the relevant system parameters normal, leading them to believe some of the warnings may have been spurious.
However, engineering records showed that in the same minute, the aircraft registered low pressure in the Green hydraulic system, followed by the Blue and Yellow systems and eventually indications involving all three hydraulic systems.
The aircraft also recorded an autopilot disengagement and left and right elevator faults, raising concerns that its pitch-control system may have been compromised and could have contributed to the sudden pitch-up.
Investigators have described the incident as involving indications from all three hydraulic systems, a serious combination because the A320’s three hydraulic systems are designed to provide redundancy. Maintenance teams conducted further checks and repairs after landing in Delhi.
High-Flyer?
Both pilots underwent mandatory post-flight psychoactive substance screening following the serious incident.
The first officer tested negative, while sources said the captain failed both tests, with the second reportedly indicating marijuana use.
Both pilots have since been taken off the roster.
Probe
The Civil Aviation Ministry said the AAIB is examining technical, operational, medical and human-factor evidence, including the aircraft and its systems, recorded flight data, maintenance and operational records, medical information and interviews.
The ministry said all evidence would be examined before any conclusions are reached.
Air India's outgoing CEO Campbell Wilson met senior ministry officials on Tuesday over the incident.
Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu said aviation safety was the ministry's top priority and there would be no compromise by regulators, airlines or any other party.
