Air India Phuket-Delhi Flight Lost Altitude After All Three Hydraulic Systems Failed

A major technical failure involving the hydraulic systems of an Air India Airbus A320 may have caused the sudden loss of altitude on a Delhi-Phuket flight on August 4, according to information cited by The New Indian Express. The incident, which occurred while the aircraft was on its return journey from Phuket to Delhi, left 17 people injured. The latest account differs from Air India's initial description of the episode as brief turbulence and raises fresh questions about the circumstances behind the altitude loss.

Captain Sam Thomas, president of the Airline Pilots Association of India (ALPAI), said the aircraft experienced a failure of all three hydraulic systems while it was entering the Jharsuguda area of Odisha at around 10.30 pm. According to Thomas, the pilot-in-command realised the severity of the problem and instructed the co-pilot to lower the aircraft's nose. The manoeuvre resulted in the aircraft descending by about 300 feet, causing a sudden negative-G effect that threw passengers around the cabin.

Thomas said the Airbus A320's hydraulic systems are responsible for operating important flight-control functions and other systems on the aircraft. The aircraft has three hydraulic reservoirs located in its lower section, with pipes and steel tubes connecting them to various control surfaces. A failure of all three hydraulic systems is considered rare, he said, and pilots may need to deliberately descend the aircraft by several hundred feet in such circumstances to stabilise it and maintain control.

Also Read: Air India Captain Suspended After Alleged Positive Dope Test On Phuket-Delhi Route

The explanation comes after Air India initially attributed the incident to "brief in-flight turbulence resulting in momentary change in altitude". In a subsequent statement issued hours later, however, the airline described it as a "sudden loss of altitude during cruise", removing the reference to turbulence. The change in wording had already raised questions about what caused the aircraft to lose altitude, with the latest account pointing to a possible technical malfunction rather than atmospheric conditions.

The actions of the cockpit crew are also being examined in the context of the incident. Thomas said the pilots' quick response helped prevent what could have been a far more serious outcome. The aircraft's sudden descent created a negative-G condition, causing passengers to be thrown around inside the cabin and resulting in injuries. Authorities will have to establish through the formal investigation whether the hydraulic-system failure occurred as described and determine the sequence of events that led to the altitude loss.

Meanwhile, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has reportedly de-rostered both pilots who were operating the aircraft. The development comes amid a separate regulatory examination of the crew following the incident. One of the pilots reportedly tested positive in an initial dope test, prompting a confirmatory test, the results of which are awaited. A positive preliminary test does not by itself establish a final violation until the confirmatory process and applicable regulatory procedures are completed.

The incident is expected to remain under scrutiny as investigators examine the aircraft's technical records, flight data, maintenance history and cockpit actions. The reported triple hydraulic-system failure, if confirmed, would be a significant factor in understanding the sudden altitude loss and the injuries sustained by passengers. Further findings from the DGCA and other authorities will be crucial in determining the precise cause of the incident and whether any additional safety measures are required.

Also Read: Survey Highlights Timeliness And Food Quality Issues Reported By Air India Fliers