NEW DELHI ( Gurpreet Singh/ Rajeev Sharma) : A major aviation safety incident involving an Air India Airbus A320 has raised serious questions after the aircraft suddenly lost approximately 300 feet of altitude during cruise while operating flight AI2379 from Phuket to Delhi on August 4, 2026.
According to information released by India’s Ministry of Civil Aviation, the aircraft, VT-EXO, subsequently stabilised and landed safely in Delhi. The flight was carrying 137 passengers, including three infants, and eight crew members, two pilots and six cabin crew. A few passengers and cabin crew members reportedly suffered injuries during the occurrence.
The Ministry said that, as required under standard operating procedures, both flight crew members underwent prescribed psychoactive substance screening following the incident. The screening result concerning the Pilot-in-Command (PIC) indicated that confirmatory testing was required. The sample has been sent to a designated laboratory, and the final confirmatory report is awaited.
The incident has been classified as a “Serious Incident” and is now under investigation by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB).
In the wake of the incident, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has taken both pilots off the roster pending the investigation and completion of the prescribed process. Authorities have stressed that any further action will depend on the findings of the investigation and the confirmatory test results.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation and DGCA said they remain committed to maintaining the highest standards of aviation safety and ensuring that all such occurrences are thoroughly investigated and dealt with in accordance with prescribed regulations and procedures.
National Times Media will continue to monitor the investigation and report further developments as they are officially confirmed.
