New Delhi: A purported post-flight maintenance report has brought a new layer to the investigation into the Air India Phuket-Delhi flight that suddenly lost around 300 feet of altitude over Odisha on August 4, with the document listing multiple warnings involving the aircraft’s hydraulic systems, flight controls and autopilot.The Airbus A320, VT-EXO, was operating as flight AI2379 when the incident occurred. The aircraft later stabilised and landed safely in Delhi, but 20 passengers and four cabin crew members were injured.According to the purported report, the aircraft recorded repeated low-pressure alerts involving its green, blue and yellow hydraulic systems, along with low fluid-level indications in the blue and yellow reservoirs. Two autopilot disconnections were also logged.The report lists several other warnings, including left and right elevator flight-control faults, engine anti-ice-related messages and indications involving the aircraft’s right forward and aft emergency exit doors.Failure messages also flagged issues involving the hydraulic system, an elevator computer and a high-pressure indication linked to the nose landing gear door/engine anti-ice valve system.However, the report by itself does not establish that these warnings caused the 300-foot altitude drop, nor does it confirm whether there was an actual loss of hydraulic pressure or fluid during the flight.The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) are investigating the incident, which has been classified as a serious incident.Investigators are examining the sequence of events, aircraft system data and crew actions to establish what led to the altitude change and whether any of the technical warnings recorded after the flight were connected to the occurrence.Air India has said the safety and well-being of its passengers and crew remain its highest priority and that it is cooperating with the authorities.The Civil Aviation Ministry is also closely monitoring the investigation, with senior officials keeping track of developments.Further findings from the AAIB probe are awaited.The aircraft, carrying 137 passengers, including three infants, and eight crew members, subsequently stabilised and landed safely in Delhi.Twenty passengers and four cabin crew members sustained injuries during the incident.Air India had initially described the occurrence as being related to turbulence.(With ANI inputs)
