An Air India Airbus A320 suffered a catastrophic but temporary loss of hydraulic power in August that left pilots unable to control the aircraft's critical flight surfaces for approximately four seconds, according to findings from Airbus cited by Reuters. The incident occurred on flight AI2379 travelling from Phuket to Delhi on August 4, during which the aircraft descended roughly 90 metres and injured 24 passengers and crew members. Despite the severity of the situation, the crew managed to land the plane safely in the Indian capital after the hydraulic systems restored function within seconds of the initial failure.
The Airbus technical analysis provides the most detailed account yet of what transpired in the cockpit during those frightening moments. The aircraft's three independent hydraulic systems—which supply pressurised fluid to operate flight control surfaces, landing gear, and other essential equipment—each experienced a loss of pressure in rapid succession. This simultaneous failure across all redundant systems created a dangerous situation where the pilots found themselves with no means to manipulate the elevators and ailerons, the movable surfaces on the tail and wings responsible for controlling pitch and roll. When the aircraft pitched upward during this control-loss phase, the first officer immediately pushed the control column fully forward in an attempt to regain control, but the flight surfaces remained unresponsive until hydraulic power was restored.
The investigation into the underlying cause remains inconclusive at this stage. While Airbus has documented what happened, the probe has not yet determined why all three hydraulic systems failed simultaneously—an event that should be virtually impossible under normal circumstances given their design independence. The aircraft experienced forces exceeding design specifications during the sudden altitude change, raising concerns about potential structural damage that may not be immediately visible. This has prompted Airbus to request that Air India conduct comprehensive structural inspections to identify any cracks or deformation resulting from the abrupt manoeuvre.
Airbus has outlined an extensive testing regime for Air India to complete before the aircraft resumes normal operations. The airline must conduct thorough examinations of the hydraulic systems themselves, as well as the pressure sensors and switches that monitor and report system status. Some sensors may need to be removed and sent for detailed laboratory analysis to determine whether they functioned correctly during the incident. The aircraft's wiring—which connects these sensors and controls the hydraulic system logic—may require additional scrutiny if preliminary checks reveal anomalies. Airbus has also requested detailed maintenance records covering the previous month, particularly any work performed on hydraulic components or related systems.
The investigation has taken on additional dimensions beyond the technical. The captain of the aircraft tested positive for marijuana in a confirmatory drug screening, a finding that has raised eyebrows in regulatory circles even though authorities have not established any causal connection between the result and the hydraulic failure. Nevertheless, the positive test prompted Air India management to implement mandatory substance testing for all pilots beginning August 13, signalling a heightened focus on crew safety protocols within the airline. The timing of this incident comes at a particularly sensitive moment for the carrier, which has already faced intense regulatory and media scrutiny following a major accident in June 2025.
Air India's initial public characterisation of the event as turbulence-related evolved as more information emerged. The airline subsequently released a revised statement acknowledging the sudden loss of altitude without framing it within meteorological factors. This shift in narrative reflects the complexity of the incident and the airline's apparent effort to balance transparency with the ongoing investigation. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau, India's official air safety body, has classified the occurrence as a serious incident—a formal designation indicating the severity and safety implications. The investigation has enlisted technical support from both Airbus and France's BEA, indicating international cooperation typical of incidents involving aircraft with multinational implications.
The incident compounds an already turbulent period for Air India, which operates under pressure from multiple directions. The Tata Group-controlled carrier has been struggling with substantial financial losses while simultaneously attempting to modernise its fleet and operational practices. The arrival of Tewolde Gebremariam, former chief executive of Ethiopian Airlines, as the new leader signals an attempt to bring experienced leadership to an organisation facing serious challenges. His appointment reflects the board's determination to stabilise the airline during a period of heightened external scrutiny and internal operational questions.
The June 2025 crash of an Air India Boeing 787 at Ahmedabad, which resulted in 260 fatalities, remains a dark shadow over the airline's recovery efforts. That disaster intensified regulatory oversight and public concern about safety practices across Air India's operations. The August incident with the A320, while resolved without loss of life, reinforces perceptions of systemic vulnerabilities that extend beyond any single aircraft type or maintenance issue. For an airline attempting to restore confidence among passengers and regulators, such incidents create significant headwinds.
Regional aviation stakeholders and neighbouring carriers are monitoring these developments closely. Singapore Airlines, which holds approximately 25 percent ownership in Air India, has a direct financial and reputational interest in the airline's recovery and safety performance. The carrier's involvement reflects both the internationalisation of Indian aviation and the interconnected nature of regional airline operations. Any prolonged grounding of aircraft or operational disruptions at Air India could have ripple effects across the region's air transport network.
The investigation's progression will likely establish important precedents for how regulators and manufacturers approach hydraulic system failures in modern commercial aircraft. The simultaneous loss of three independent hydraulic circuits represents a failure scenario that engineering protocols theoretically prevent. Understanding how this occurred will be crucial not only for Air India's fleet management but potentially for the broader aviation industry's understanding of hydraulic system vulnerabilities. Airbus and regulatory authorities worldwide will be closely monitoring the final findings as they emerge from ongoing technical analyses and simulations.
