Airbus Joins Air India A320 Altitude Drop Probe

Airbus (EPA:AIR) is sending technical specialists to India to assist authorities investigating an Air India A320 that experienced a sudden altitude drop during a flight from Phuket to Delhi last week.

The aircraft, registered as VT-EXO and operating as Air India flight AI2379, abruptly lost approximately 300 feet of altitude while cruising on August 4. The plane subsequently stabilized, allowing the crew to continue the flight and land safely at Delhi.

The incident resulted in injuries to eight passengers and four crew members. Indian aviation authorities launched an investigation on the same day to determine what caused the unexpected altitude loss.

As part of the investigation, officials secured the Air India A320's Flight Data Recorder and Cockpit Voice Recorder. Data from the two devices is expected to help investigators reconstruct the events leading up to the sudden drop and assess the aircraft's performance and crew actions during the incident.

Airbus said Monday that it is deploying specialists to provide technical assistance to the investigation. The European aircraft manufacturer has not indicated what may have caused the A320's altitude loss, with the matter remaining under examination by Indian authorities.

The investigation has also expanded to include the flight crew. India's civil aviation ministry said Sunday that the captain of flight AI2379 returned an initial screening result for psychoactive substances.

Authorities are conducting additional laboratory testing to verify the initial result. An initial screening result does not by itself establish a final confirmed finding, and officials have yet to announce the outcome of the further tests.

The Air India A320 incident comes under scrutiny as investigators analyze flight recorder information, technical data and other evidence to establish why the aircraft suddenly lost altitude.

No final cause has been announced. The investigation remains ongoing, with Airbus providing specialist support as Indian aviation authorities work to determine the circumstances surrounding the August 4 incident.