New Delhi, August 13, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is likely to submit its interim report within a month on the Air India Phuket-Delhi flight incident in which the aircraft suddenly lost 300 feet of altitude at 36,000 feet, injuring 24 people on board, according to sources.
The government has asked the investigative agency to expedite the probe, with the aim of identifying the cause of the incident and strengthening the regulatory framework to prevent similar occurrences in future.
Unlike the Air India AI171 crash in Ahmedabad, investigators have access to the key evidence in the Phuket-Delhi incident, including the flight data recorder (FDR) and cockpit voice recorder (CVR). Medical examination records and testimonies are also expected to form part of the investigation.
Sources said analysis of the FDR and CVR data would be expedited. The AAIB is examining technical, operational, medical and human-factor aspects of the incident, including the aircraft and its systems, flight data, operational and maintenance records, medical information and statements from those concerned.
Air India has also come under scrutiny from the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), with authorities emphasising the need to address issues relating to the airline’s work culture. Sources also said a stricter framework may be required to strengthen checks concerning substance use among flight crew.
The pilot-in-command of AI-2379 has reportedly tested positive for psychoactive substances in two post-flight tests, sources said. The second test was conducted after the initial screening and also returned positive, with the substance reportedly identified as marijuana.
The Airbus A320neo was carrying 137 passengers and eight crew members when it encountered the sudden altitude loss during its cruise from Phuket to Delhi on August 4. Twenty passengers and four crew members were injured. Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu had said two crew members suffered spinal injuries near the tailbone and neck.
According to sources, the pilot was reportedly away from the cockpit seat while the co-pilot was in command when the aircraft experienced the sudden descent. Investigators are examining whether pilot action, a technical issue or a hydraulic malfunction contributed to the incident.
The sudden descent resulted in a negative-G condition, causing unsecured objects and people inside the aircraft to become airborne. Passengers and crew members who were not strapped in, particularly towards the rear of the aircraft, suffered injuries.
The AAIB has said that all relevant evidence will be examined comprehensively before any conclusions are reached.
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