An Air India flight operating from Phuket to Delhi experienced a serious technical emergency at an altitude of 36,000 feet after all three of its hydraulic systems simultaneously lost pressure, according to a preliminary report by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB).
The hydraulic pressure loss caused the aircraft's autopilot to disengage and triggered a stall warning. The aircraft briefly gained and lost altitude during the incident before the hydraulic systems recovered within seconds.
Editorial Insight
Key Highlights
Important points readers should notice.
Issue/Event: Simultaneous hydraulic pressure loss during flight.
Location: At 36,000 feet during the Phuket-Delhi flight.
Authority/Organisation: Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB).
Action Taken: Investigators are examining hydraulic components, flight data, cockpit recordings and maintenance records.
Impact: Temporary loss of hydraulic pressure affected aircraft systems and resulted in medical assistance being provided to 24 passengers and crew.
The flight subsequently continued its journey and landed safely in Delhi.
The incident resulted in 24 passengers and crew members requiring medical assistance, with four people hospitalized, according to the preliminary findings.
Investigators are continuing to examine the circumstances surrounding the incident. The probe includes an examination of the aircraft's hydraulic components, flight data, cockpit recordings and relevant maintenance records.
Editorial Analysis
Why This Matters
The simultaneous loss of pressure across all three hydraulic systems is a significant flight-safety event because hydraulic systems support several critical aircraft functions. The ongoing AAIB investigation will be important in determining the cause and whether any maintenance or technical factors contributed to the incident.
The preliminary report is part of the ongoing investigation, and further findings could provide additional details about what caused the simultaneous hydraulic pressure loss and the aircraft's response during the emergency.
