France's civil aviation authority and Airbus are joining the investigation into a severe turbulence incident involving an Air India flight [1, 2].
The expansion of the probe signifies the severity of the event and the need for technical expertise from the aircraft manufacturer and international regulators. Investigators aim to determine why the aircraft experienced a sudden drop that resulted in multiple injuries [1, 2].
Air India flight AI 2379 was traveling on a route from Phuket to Delhi when it encountered the severe turbulence [1]. During the event, the aircraft dropped approximately 300 feet [1]. The sudden descent caused injuries to 17 people on board [1].
India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) is leading the primary inquiry [1, 2]. To support the AAIB, the French Bureau d'Enquêtes et d'Analyses (BEA), and specialist teams from Airbus are scheduled to arrive in Delhi on Tuesday [2].
The collaboration between the AAIB, BEA, and Airbus is intended to analyze flight data and technical performance during the turbulence. This multi-agency approach is standard for incidents involving aircraft manufactured abroad, ensuring that the manufacturer's engineering data is integrated with the operational findings from the flight crew and the national investigator [1, 2].
“The aircraft dropped approximately 300 feet during the turbulence event.”
The involvement of the BEA and Airbus indicates that the incident is being treated as a significant safety event rather than a routine weather encounter. By bringing in the manufacturer and the French authority, investigators can determine if the 300-foot drop was caused solely by atmospheric conditions or if aircraft systems played a role in the severity of the descent.
