France's BEA and Airbus are assisting India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau in probing a sudden altitude loss on Air India flight AI2379 [1].
The involvement of international aviation experts underscores the severity of the mechanical failure and the need to determine if a systemic flaw exists in the aircraft type.
The incident occurred on Aug. 4, 2026 [1] during a flight from Phuket, Thailand, to Delhi, India [2]. The aircraft, an Airbus A320 [5], experienced a sudden drop of approximately 300 feet [2]. This rapid descent resulted in injuries to 17 passengers and crew members [3].
A preliminary report from the flight crew indicated that the altitude loss was caused by a triple hydraulic failure [6]. Such a failure significantly impacts the pilot's ability to control the aircraft's flight surfaces, including the flaps and landing gear, increasing the risk of a catastrophic event.
Because of the nature of the failure, the AAIB has launched a formal safety investigation under ICAO Annex 13 [2]. This international protocol ensures that the manufacturer and the state of design provide technical expertise to prevent future occurrences.
The BEA, France's national agency for investigating civil aviation accidents, will work alongside Airbus technicians to analyze the aircraft's flight data recorders. Investigators are focusing on why all three hydraulic systems failed simultaneously, a scenario that is designed to be highly improbable in modern commercial jets [1].
Air India has not provided further details on the condition of the 17 injured persons [3]. The aircraft was safely landed in Delhi following the incident [2].
“France's BEA and Airbus are assisting India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau.”
A triple hydraulic failure is a critical emergency in aviation, as these systems provide the necessary pressure to operate essential flight controls. The activation of ICAO Annex 13 and the inclusion of the BEA and Airbus suggest that investigators are treating this not as an isolated maintenance error, but as a significant technical failure that could have implications for the global A320 fleet.
