Airbus to assist probe into Air India aircraft altitude loss

WEB DESK: European planemaker Airbus said on Monday it would send specialists to assist an investigation into an Air India aircraft that suddenly lost altitude during a flight last week.

An Air India A320, operating flight AI2379 from Phuket to Delhi on August 4, unexpectedly dropped around 300 feet while cruising. The aircraft later stabilised and landed safely in Delhi.

Indian authorities launched an investigation into the incident and secured the aircraft’s Flight Data Recorder and Cockpit Voice Recorder for examination.

The sudden altitude loss left eight passengers and four crew members injured.

India’s civil aviation ministry said on Sunday that the flight’s captain had returned an initial positive screening result for psychoactive substances, with further laboratory testing underway.